Hazel Grace Lancaster, a sixteen year old with terminal cancer, is attending a cancer support group when she meets Agustus Waters, who is there supporting their mutual friend, Isaac. They catch each other's eye and soon become friends that talk to each other about everything. They hang out and discuss their experiences with cancer. Hazel has thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs and Agustus had osteosarcoma, but has been cancer free since the amputation. Hazel shares her favorite book, An Imperial Affliction, and they obsess about how the book ends midsentence not giving the reader any closure. Agustus tracks down the author's assistant, Lidewij, and begins e-mail correspondence with Peter Van Houten. He invites Hazel to Amsterdam. So, Agustus uses his wish to take her to meet the author. However, the meeting doesn't go as planned and they leave in utter disappointment. Agustus reveals his cancer is back and that he wants Isaac and Hazel to give his eulogies. He dies eight days later. This is a great book for those 14 years and above. It deals with cancer, young love, and death. Although both main characters have cancer, the cancer isn't the story. The story is beautiful, funny, and heartbreaking. It shows us that cancer can affect anyone.
Green gives us a twist to Hazel's conflict. She's conflicted about entering into a relationship with Agustus because she feels she will hurt him if her illness worsens or she dies. However, it is Agustus who dies first and leaves Hazel heartbroken.
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