The Fault in Our Stars

Though the book The Fault in Our Stars is inspired by a young woman who lost her battle with thyroid cancer, the story is a work of fiction. Recently, we asked Green, the author of The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns, about his reason to write a fictional book about cancer. To research the book, Green says he spoke with a lot of people familiar with the disease and read a lot of material on the subject. ‘It was very important to me to talk to a lot of people who were living with cancer or who had children or other family members die of cancer,’ said Green. ‘I also talked to a lot of oncologists and read a lot about the disease. I read a lot of memoirs and textbooks about the disease so that I could try to understand it.’ ‘I guess I wanted to show that people living with illness are also doing many other things,’ Green told us. ‘They aren’t entirely defined by their illness or by their disability. A lot of times I think that from the outside, maybe we imagine sick people as being defined by their illness or as being simply, merely sick. My experience has always been that the people who are chronically ill are also many other things. They’re capable of love and have all the same desires as other people. Their lives are every bit as rich, complex, important and meaningful as any others. One of the really difficult things about doing this is that it can be socially isolating,’ Green added. The Fault in Our Stars is a teen romance exploring the tragic business of being alive and in love. Being insightful, bold and powerful, The Fault in Our Stars is perfect for young adults and adults alike.

About the author: John Michael Green was born on August 24, 1977, to Mike and Sydney Green in Indianapolis. He received his early education from Lake Highland Preparatory School and Indian Springs School. He earned double graduation degrees from Kenyon College. After graduation, he spent some of his time among children with terminal illness, and that stimulated him to become a writer.

(Adapted from the business insider website.)