Parents' Guide to

The Fault in Our Stars

By Kate Pavao, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Heartrending love story told by teen dying of cancer.

Book John Green Coming of Age 2012
The Fault in Our Stars Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 13+

Based on 43 parent reviews

hjbazza
hjbazza Parent of 11 and 13-year-old
August 1, 2018
age 16+

Crass at times

One the whole, as an adult, I enjoyed the book. It did not live up to expectations though. I found some of the sexual references and language rather vulgar out of character with the rest of the story. This is a pity because the overall subject matter was well dealt with very positively. I also thought the character of Van Houten was very implausible.
arafra
arafra Parent of 15, 18+ and 18+-year-old
April 6, 2021
age 18+

A romantic, emotional and sensitive story for young people MUST NOT involve them having sex in their young and immature relacionship just cause they've got a terminal illness

There are many more stories for teen children that include HEALTHY relationships in all senses
See all 43 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Hazel knows she is dying of cancer, and even when she makes an instant connection with survivor Augustus Waters at a youth support group, she is determined not to start a romance with him ("I'm a grenade and at some point I'm going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties, okay?"). Even so, when he uses his Wish to take her to Amsterdam to meet a reclusive author she loves, it is impossible to deny that he loves her -- and she loves him. And though she soon learns that Gus has a painful secret, Hazel learns that loving others is worth it, even when it leaves a "scar."

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (43 ):
Kids say (495 ):

Be prepared: This is a tearjerker dealing with dying -- and surviving the death of a loved one. Parents who read this book along with their teens will be particularly moved by Hazel's parents, who soothe her anxiety by telling her about their plans for after she has died ("Even when you die, I will still be your mom, Hazel ... how could I stop loving you?"). Green wrote this book after making a friendship with a teen with cancer, and his attention to detail is remarkable, from descriptions of equipment to what it feels like to be stared at by well-meaning strangers. Readers may be perplexed about an alcoholic author who begins making appearances in Hazel's life, and may be unsure if he is really there or just a symbol. This decision seems a bit out of step with what is otherwise a realistic and emotionally harrowing book about love and loss. But Hazel's honest narration and her strength to love despite the consequences will capture teens' attention most. In the end, this is a painful book, but well worth it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it would be like to know you are dying. Would you do anything differently? Why does Hazel say she feels like a "grenade" and tell her parents she wants to "minimize the casualties" by staying away from people?

  • Also, the author's other books, such as Looking for Alaska, are often called edgy. What makes a book "Young Adult," and when does it crossover into being an adult story? Does it have to do mostly with the age of the narrator, or something else?

Book Details

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