The Fault in Our Stars

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of illness or death, mental illness, and grief or loss.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How does Green’s approach to writing about teenagers with cancer differ from other stories you’ve encountered about illness? Have you read other works that tackle similar themes, such as Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper?

2. What was your initial reaction to the relationship between Hazel and Augustus? Did your feelings about their romance change as the story progressed? Why or why not?

3. How effective was Green’s choice to tell the story from Hazel’s first-person perspective? What does this narrative choice add to your understanding of the story?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Hazel initially resists forming close relationships because she sees herself as a “grenade.” How do you approach relationships when you know they might involve future pain or loss?

2. Augustus is preoccupied with leaving a mark on the world. How do you measure the impact of your own life? What constitutes a meaningful legacy?

3. The novel explores different ways parents cope with their children’s illnesses.