Okay? Okay.

Ashley Marquez

The Fault in Our Stars
By John Green

     “You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world … but you do have some say in who hurts you” (313).
     This sad and tragic story is a love story full of emotion. 16 year-old Hazel Grace suffers from stage 4 Thyroid cancer with metastasis forming in her lungs. As a cancer fighter, she has been able to do maintain her GED, take college classes, all while she has her regular doctors appointments. As a teen, she is reluctant to go to a support group that takes place in the basement of a church. Later in the story, she realizes how beneficial going to this group was. In support group, she meets a young man: Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor. He suffered from osteosarcoma.  He is drawn to her in a way that makes Hazel uncomfortable because she has never had a relationship before. They begin to talk and hit it off, but she tries to push him away because she believes she’s “a grenade and at some point I’m going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties” (75). Augustus Waters is aware that she can die at any point, and Hazel always reminds him of it, but even with that in mind, he doesn't seem to care because he loves her.
     This book didn’t disappoint. It was such a good book that I don't even have to question why they chose to make this a movie. I have watched the movie after I finished the book and I have to say that the book is better. I usually never read books that are already movies but this book was definitely worth it.
     The message of living and loving despite dying is an important reminder to live life. Augustus and Hazel talk about the world being unfair, and how it isn't a ”wish-granting factory” (214). Hazel Grace knew she was on limited time, the adventure she had in the book was her living her life. She never thought she would find love or even someone she could be with because of her situation. The book is focused on the love these two characters have for each other and how “everybody should have true love, and it should last at least long as your life does”(75). She is a teen and as a teen, you begin to think of love and having a relationship. When she meets Augustus Waters she never thought she could be interested into a boy that isn't in a movie or TV show. This is no spoiler but when she gets to know Augustus they do begin dating. Augustus did have cancer and he has been cancer free for 4 years, but there was always a possibility that it could come back. Hazel and Augustus become very fond of each other; given their situation they were always scared of losing each other because of dying. Augustus says to Hazel "Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you" (176). The condition of their health is always a burden to each other but they tell each other that they will be okay forever by saying "okay"; this is only said give comfort for to one another. In response, Hazel or Augustus would say "okay".
     I recommend this book if you want a good cry because of the amount of emotion this book carries. This book should be for teens 14+  or around that age because there is kissing and the main characters do have sex. There is also the use of drugs: cigarettes. Augustus Waters does have a metaphor on cigarettes. “They don't kill you unless you light them… And I've never lit one. It's a metaphor, see: You put the killing right between your teeth, but you don’t give it the power to do it's killing” (20). He does mention that cigarettes kill you and how he has never lit one before because he is just trying to prove a point. This book is a must read book, definitely worth it!