The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars is a Young Adult novel by John Green. It was published on January 10, 2012. The title is inspired by Act 1, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, in which the nobleman Cassius says to Brutus: *"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,/But in ourselves, that we are underlings."* The film adaptation was directed by Josh Boone and starred Shailene Woodley as Hazel Grace Lancaster, Ansel Elgort as Augustus Waters, and Nat Wolff as Isaac. The movie was released on June 6, 2014.

### Summary

Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old girl with thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs, is forced to attend a cancer patient support group by her mother. At one meeting, Hazel meets a 17-year-old boy named Augustus Waters, whose osteosarcoma caused him to lose his right leg. Augustus is at the meeting to support his friend Isaac, who has eye cancer. Hazel and Augustus immediately form a bond and later agree to read each other's favorite books. Augustus gives Hazel The Price of Dawn, and Hazel recommends her favorite book of all time; An Imperial Affliction, a novel about a girl with cancer named Anna. After Augustus finishes reading her book, he is frustrated because the novel ends abruptly without a conclusion, as if Anna had died suddenly. Hazel explains the novel's author, Peter Van Houten, moved to Amsterdam after the novel was published and has not been heard from since. A week later, Augustus tells Hazel that he has tracked down Van Houten's assistant, Lidewij, and the two write to Van Houten with questions about his book. He eventually replies, explaining that he can only answer Hazel's questions in person. At a picnic date, Augustus surprises Hazel with tickets to Amsterdam to meet Van Houten, acquired through the story's version of the Make-A-Wish Foundation; "The Genies." Upon meeting Van Houten, Hazel and Augustus are shocked to discover that he is a mean-spirited alcoholic. Horrified by Van Houten's hostile behavior towards the teenagers, Lidewij confesses to having arranged the meeting on his behalf. Lidewij resigns as Van Houten's assistant and takes Hazel and Augustus to the Anne Frank House, where Augustus and Hazel have their first kiss. Later that night Hazel and Augustus lose their virginity to each other in Augustus's hotel room, confessing their mutual love for one another. The next day, Augustus reveals that his cancer has returned and has spread throughout his body. They return to their homes in Indianapolis, and Augustus's health continues to deteriorate, resulting in him staying in the ICU for a few days. Predicting his death, Augustus invites Isaac and Hazel to his "pre-funeral", where they give eulogies. Augustus dies soon after, leaving Hazel heartbroken. Van Houten shows up at Augustus's funeral to apologize to Hazel, but Hazel does not forgive him. Hazel learns that Augustus had written an obituary for her, and reads it after Lidewij discovers it among Van Houten's letters. It states that getting hurt in this world is unavoidable, but we do get to choose whom we allow to hurt us, and that he is happy with his choice, and hopes she likes hers too. The book ends with Hazel stating that she is happy with her choice.