From the Notebook --- The Fault in our Stars

What's up, guys?

Anyway, I'm in the holly jolly writing mood (or holiday mood?), so let's get a'cracking. I've read 27 books so far this school year, so I'll take some time to introduce a few of the covers I've perused and enjoyed so far.

I'm going to be very mainstream and introduce a book that I'm sure you all have heard of before: John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.

 (Credits to Amazon)

(Credits to Teen Lit Rocks)

This touching book recounts the struggles and life of 16-year-old Hazel Grace Lancaster, a girl with thyroid cancer with metastasis growing in her lungs since she was 13. She is very bright, having already finished high school and is in the process of completing a college education. Forced to sign up for a cancer support group, Hazel meets a boy named Augustus Waters, also known as Gus, whose right leg is now a prostheses because of osteosarcoma, and is currently in remission. He is a former star basketball player, and is a very bright teenager as well. They begin to form a friendship over novels when Hazel and Augustus promise to trade favorite books ("An Imperial Affliction" for Hazel Grace and a video game novel for Gus). Through texting and phone calls, the two become very close friends, often having philosophical discussions late at night.

Hazel idolizes the reclusive and alcoholic author of "An Imperial Affliction", Peter van Houten, for the writing of the book, so Augustus writes a letter to van Houten in hopes that he would reply for Hazel. From the reply of van Houten's secretary, she also decides to write a letter to him. Because of these events, she learns that Augustus has not used his "Wish" from The Genies (a spin-off of the Make a Wish Foundation), and that he wants to use it to visit van Houten in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Although Hazel Grace begins to form romantic notions with Augustus, she doesn't want to have a relationship with him in fear of hurting him in potential death after learning of Augustus's previous girlfriend's loss to cancer. However, after admittance to the hospital for serious pneumonia, she realizes that she loves Augustus, and the two decide to confirm their trip to Holland.

As time goes on, Hazel Grace finds herself falling deeper and deeper in love with Augustus...  But she finds that time is running out as Augustus reveals his new diagnosis: his cancer has come back...

-Eri

11/15/13