By Emily Bolcer – News Editor

John Green released his newest novel, “The Fault in Our Stars,” on January 10.

The story begins with 16-year-old Hazel Lancaster. Immediately Green reveals that his heroine is a terminal cancer patient.

Hazel joins a support group where she meets a great twist in her depressing plot.

Augustus Waters attends one of the group meetings to support his friend, Isaac, who will become blind.

Throughout the novel, Waters and Lancaster become very close through Peter Van Houten’s novel, An Imperial Affliction.

Traveling to Amsterdam, the duo meets their idol only to realize that he is a drunk dealing with the loss of his own daughter to the battle of cancer.

Many who begin this novel may start off thinking it’s going to be a normal ‘cancer battle’ book, but it is so much more.

Green takes readers on a roller coaster ride that sees many different twists and turns.

Although the disease looms in the back of the readers mind and is prevalent on every page, it is easy to see that the disease does not control them.

Both Waters and Lancaster live their lives and put their cancer aside.

Although detrimental to their health, both still decide to get on a plane and go across the world to Amsterdam, only to be let down.

This novel is able to take such a serious topic and bring in much needed comedic relief.

Green allows his readers to see that even those who are terminally ill, can still live their lives, and be something to the world.

Green goes against all bounds in this novel and magnificently succeeds.

This novel is emotionally jerking, and filled with moments of tears, moments of laughter, and moments of both, but this only makes it worth the while.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

(Photo courtesy amazon.com)