The Fault in Our Stars
The Fault in Our Stars is a poignant and emotionally resonant young adult novel that delves into the lives of two teenagers, Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, who meet and fall in love at a cancer support group. The story explores themes of terminal illness, first love, philosophical questions about life, death, and existence, all while maintaining a witty and authentic teenage voice. It is categorized as a drama and romance, appealing to a mature young adult audience. The narrative chronicles their journey, including a trip to Amsterdam, as they navigate their challenging circumstances and find connection and meaning. The content includes mature themes, strong language, and sexual references, making it generally recommended for older teenagers.
Concerns
Romance and Sexual Content
HighThe narrative features a central romantic relationship with passionate kissing, implied sexual activity, and a non-explicit sex scene between the main characters. Sexual innuendo and discussions of virginity are also present.
Hazel and Augustus share passionate kisses, including one instance where Isaac's girlfriend is described as having her breast groped while kissing him outside the church. Later in the story, Hazel and Augustus engage in a sexual encounter in a hotel room in Amsterdam; this scene is described as brief and non-explicit, showing Augustus naked from the waist up and Hazel's torso from behind in the movie adaptation, with the book intimating the act.
Profanity
HighThe book features frequent and strong profanity throughout the dialogue. This includes repeated use of the 'f-word' and other expletives.
The dialogue is noted to be 'laced with profanity,' with 'the F-word dropped repeatedly' in the book. Examples of strong language include 'f***head' and 's***' used in character dialogue.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe core of the story revolves around the intense and distressing realities of terminal illness and death in teenagers, which is central to the plot and evokes significant emotional responses.
Hazel and Augustus both suffer from life-threatening cancers, leading to scenes depicting medical procedures, physical deterioration, and the emotional toll of their illnesses. The narrative includes the death of a main character, Augustus Waters, and the subsequent grief experienced by Hazel and other characters, which is a profoundly sad and intense event.
Anti-Christian Themes
HighThe book contains elements that may be perceived as anti-Christian, with main characters expressing skepticism, doubt, and subtle disrespect towards Christian beliefs, despite attending a support group in a church.
Hazel, Augustus, and Isaac make 'snarky comments' about the cancer support group leader's observation that they are 'in the heart of Jesus,' indicating a lack of alignment or respect for Christian faith. Augustus explicitly states he believes in 'Something,' but 'not the God of his parents,' and believes people have souls but 'don't go to heaven,' directly questioning Christian theological tenets.
Violence
MediumThe book contains mild instances of violence, primarily involving property damage and brief mentions of fictional combat. It lacks graphic depictions of physical harm to individuals.
Augustus encourages his best friend, Isaac, to cope with a breakup by throwing and breaking his basketball trophies against a wall. Additionally, Hazel, Augustus, and their friend engage in a minor act of vandalism by throwing eggs at a girl's car.
Substance Use
MediumThe book depicts substance use, including teenagers consuming alcohol, an adult character struggling with alcoholism, and references to illicit substances.
Augustus frequently holds unlit cigarettes in his mouth as a metaphor, although he never actually smokes them. Hazel and Augustus are served and consume champagne during a dinner in Amsterdam and at a picnic, though they are not depicted as drunk. Additionally, the character Peter Van Houten is clearly portrayed as an alcoholic, seen drinking scotch at inappropriate times, such as breakfast and a funeral, and from a flask.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe characters exhibit instances of mild disrespect and rebellious behavior, including sarcastic remarks towards authority figures and minor acts of defiance or vandalism.
Hazel, Augustus, and their friend Isaac make 'snarky comments' and display a lack of respect towards their cancer support group leader, Patrick, particularly regarding his religious observations about being 'in the heart of Jesus.' Augustus, in a moment of emotional distress, has his friend Isaac break his basketball trophies after a breakup.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowLimited mention of LGBTQ+ themes was identified. One source refers to the presence of a 'gay character' without providing specific details regarding their identity, role, or explicit scenes. Other comprehensive parental reviews do not highlight LGBTQ+ content as a significant theme or concern within the book's main narrative.
A Quora discussion regarding the book's appropriateness for a 10-year-old includes a comment stating, 'It should be as long as you don't mind the 10 year old being introduced to a gay character.' However, no specific character names, scenes, or plot details are provided to elaborate on this assertion across the broader range of parental guidance reviews. The character and context remain undefined.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowNo elements of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, or spells are present in the book.
The story focuses on realistic themes of illness, romance, and philosophical discussions, with no supernatural or occult elements. No characters engage in magical practices or rituals.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
14+ years. The book is widely recommended for ages 14 and above due to its mature themes, including terminal illness, death, sexual content (implied sex scene), and frequent strong language. Many reviewers suggest that while younger teens might read it, the emotional depth and sensitive topics require a certain level of maturity for comprehension and processing.
Additional Notes
Parents should be prepared to discuss complex themes such as death, grief, the meaning of life, and difficult philosophical questions. The emotional intensity of the story can be profound. While the movie adaptation often reflects the book's content, visual depictions of romance and substance use can be more impactful in the film. There are no identified sequels or adaptations that significantly alter or intensify the core concerns beyond what is present in the original novel.
Related Reviews
Is The Fault in Our Stars right for your family?
These concerns are a starting point — what many Christian parents care about. Want to screen for other themes? Define your own concerns.
Screen any book, movie, or show — even titles no one else has reviewed.
“StoryScanner gives us clarity and confidence. It's become our go-to for checking books at the library and movies on family night.”
— Cristi & Brian, Dallas TX
“StoryScanner has been such a BLESSING for researching books for our children. You can set filters for your concerns, enter a book title, and it lets you know what's present.”
— Christian Book Reviews for Families (Facebook)
No credit card required