Summary
Hazel Lancaster has always known that she was terminal. She had lungs that really didn't function like lungs and other health-related issues to deal with. She had come to accept the fact that she didn't have much of a life, and she was okay with that fact. She was content with her favorite book, An Imperial Affliction. She was content watching her favorite show, America's Next Top Model. She was content with the fact that she had to walk around attached to an oxygen tank. It wasn't until Augustus Waters, fellow cancer kid, came that she realized that it was possible to be more that just "content".
Augustus takes Hazel's life and takes it on an unexpected, emotional, and heartwarming adventure. Both of them come together with their respective baggage (mostly relating to their health) and they take on the world with their witty comments and raw emotions. Hazel's life definitely isn't ready for her to stop adventuring.
Opinion
Scale of 1-10:
10
I think that for this being my first John Green book, I made an excellent pick. Okay, I didn't pick this book. I told my friend that I had yet to read it and she thought I was slightly crazy... so I read it. Throughout the whole thing, I was texting her my comments about the absolutely heartwarming or devastating things happening in this story. I had so many emotions flowing through me as I read each and every page.
I think that when it comes to books, the writing must be excellent if I'm sobbing by the end of it. If I feel such intense emotions about fictional characters then John Green must be doing SOMETHING right as an author! I honestly can't remember the last book I read that made me cry so much. And some of those tears weren't even sad, though. There were some moments that genuinely made me happy and gave me so much hope as a reader.
Pretty much all I have to say is that if you haven't read this book, I need you to go and buy it then read it. I think you'd be really missing out if you don't experience this book. That's what I felt like reading it. I felt that I was part of an experience and not just someone watching from the sidelines. This is just such a must-read!!
Age Rating
13+
This story does have language throughout and a little bit of sexual content such as particular scenes and references. It can also cover some dark topics and thoughts.
Language:
The words that are said throughout the book are "hell", "bastard", "shit", "damn", "bitch", and "piss". It's not like every other word when you're reading, but it's still very notable in my opinion.
Sexual Content:
In this book there are multiple kissing scenes but there's only one scene that is graphically described by Hazel. There is kissing and you know that the two characters, Hazel and Augustus, have sex. Afterwards Hazel briefly talks about it but it isn't too detailed or anything, but it's made very clear that it did indeed happen. There are also sex jokes and references throughout the entirety of the story.
Violence:
This isn't in any way an action-packed book but there are some graphically detailed situations having to do with being a cancer patient. This book describes certain treatments that involve tubes being stuck in the body and it also talks about certain effects of the treatments like puking and uncontrollable bladders. All the book is doing is giving you a realistic portrayal of what cancer patients have to go through, but that doesn't make it any more pleasant to read about, especially when it's happening to beloved characters.
Other:
There are many dark times and thoughts that Hazel has. There are also some dark topics that she covers with Augustus such as death and whether or not they are worth it to each other to see suffering. It was sad for me to read about but ultimately the two characters realize they are worth it to each other and it does end up send positive messages about love, commitment, and suffering.
Here's the link to the book on Goodreads:
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