The Fault in Our Stars
Here's what we found in The Fault in Our Stars. Every family is different — get a report that reflects yours.
Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to 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.
Things to Consider
Romance and Sexual Content
The 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
The book features frequent and strong profanity throughout the dialogue. This includes repeated use of the 'f-word' and other expletives.
Scary & Intense Content
The 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.
Anti-Christian Themes
The 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.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
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.
Good to Know
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.
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