Your Top Reads!
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green was this month's most-read book on the Guardian Children's books site! Your reviews were extremely passionate about this emotive novel, describing the prose as 'heart-touching' 'just beautiful' and 'surprisingly optimistic'.
The Fault in Our Stars is a unique novel reflecting on existential questions, teenage love and the tragedy of childhood illness. The two main characters – Hazel and Augustus – who meet at a Cancer Support Group, embark on a life changing journey. Along the way they find love, friendship and understanding of the world around them. Reader ThePinkElephant wonderfully summarised the storyline in her review 'They ask questions that relate to all of us: Will I be loved? Will I be remembered? Will I leave a mark?'
Your reviews excellently detailed the realism of the characters - confirming their authenticity for a teen audience: 'I felt every single thing Hazel described about her life' - opined reviewer Mariakozhuhar. Likewise, site members Tasha, ThePinkElephant and Becca.E all commented on the characters' realistic personas - with Tjala enthusing ''I loved the characters so much that Augustus has become my second best fictional character of all time!'
The Fault in Our Stars has previously been criticised as being 'sick-lit' – and several of our readers addressed this critique explicitly in their reviews. John Green also responded to these criticisms earlier in the year in an interview with one of our reviewers Patrick - which can be found here.
Site member Readr authored an outstanding review, in which he argued against the 'sick-lit' distinction. ''Literature should have the function of starting a discussion and letting the author convey his or her message. Accusing an accomplished author like John Green of writing about sick people to draw attention to his work is utter nonsense.'
Similarly, reader Lydia challenged this labelling in her terrific critique ''I find this 'sick-lit' label outrageous; fiction deals with all aspects of life, be it the happy moments or the sad and John Green has certainly done that.'
Discussing the plotline, one of our young critics Tasha clarified: 'Although this is a book about cancer, it is not a cancer book' with Mariakozhuhar elaborating 'It's a very emotional novel about sincere love and devotion.'
The Fault in Our Stars obviously evoked powerful responses from you. As ThePinkElephant adeptly summarised 'The Fault in Our Stars is an insightful and moving novel that will leave you with a lump in your throat, but with a more optimistic understanding of life.'
Having enjoyed your reviews of The Fault In Our Stars by John Green – we can see why this book evoked such strong responses from our readers! Summarising the impact of the novel, reader Becca.E stated 'This book will stay with you forever.'
Other popular reads this month included:
• Lottie Biggs is NOT Desperate by Hayley Long
• The Anti-Prom by Abby McDonald
• The Last Wild by Piers Torday
• Theodore Boone by John Grisham
Want to get involved in the debate? Join the site and tell the world what books you've been reading!
