The Fault in Our Stars Book Summary

Support Group

Written by John Green and published in 2012, the novel The Fault in Our Stars tells the story of Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters, two teenagers battling cancer. Hazel has thyroid cancer. Augustus had osteosarcoma but has been declared cancer-free with an amputated leg. The story begins with Hazel’s reluctant participation in a support group for cancer patients that her mother has forced her to take part in. There, she meets Augustus, who is attending to support his friend Issac, who has an eye tumor.

The Novel

Augustus starts conversing with Hazel by saying she resembles Natalie Portman in V for Vendetta and invites her to his place. They discuss how they have battled their ailments and talk about their favorite novels. Hazel recommends An Imperial Affliction by Peter Van Houten, who mysteriously fled to Amsterdam after publishing the open-ended novel about a girl battling cancer just like her.

Van Houten

A few days later, Augustus tracks down Van Houten’s assistant and starts communication with the author through her. He shares their conversation with Hazel, and she responds with questions about the novel’s lack of closure. She finds the novel so relatable that she wants to know whether the protagonist, Anna’s mother, will survive her death. Hazel believes if she does, so will her parents. Van Houten says he will only answer in person if she visits Amsterdam.

The Hospital

Augustus comes up with an opportunity for them to visit Amsterdam to meet him with the help of a charitable organization that helps children fighting cancer fulfill their wishes. Hazel is overwhelmed. She also realizes she likes him and discovers that her death might break his heart. Following this, she suffers from an issue with her lungs. She spends a few days in the ICU, during which Augustus doesn’t leave the hospital and presents her with another letter from Van Houten after her release, which makes her determined to visit him in Amsterdam. The doctors say that she is not fit to travel yet, but one of them who wants her to live her life tries to convince her parents to allow her.

Amsterdam

Hazel, her mother, and Augustus visit Amsterdam, but when meeting Van Houten, they discover that he is nothing like they thought him to be. He seemed to be an irresponsible drunk man who failed to answer her questions. The disappointed teenagers then focus on exploring the city as they visit Anne Frank’s house and kiss each other in public before returning to their hotel room to make love. Before returning home, Augustus discloses to Hazel that a scan has revealed his cancer has returned and is spreading everywhere. He changes, and his charms are replaced with vulnerability and anxiety. A few days before breathing his last, Augustus organizes a pre-funeral for himself. Issac and Hazel attend and give beautiful eulogies about how much they love him.

The Aftermath

After his death, Van Houten attends the actual funeral. He reveals to Hazel that Augustus has been in touch with him and demands that the author make up for Hazel’s ruined trip to Amsterdam. He tries to discuss Anna’s fate, but she is disinterested. A few days later, Issac informs Hazel about Augustus’s attempt to write a sequel to Van Houten’s book. She tries to discuss that with the author when he reveals that Anna was the daughter he lost to cancer. She learns that Augustus has already sent him the manuscript to rewrite a eulogy for her. She receives it shortly after her narration as she reads his words about personal choices and finding happiness.