Every week we are featuring one of the brilliant books in the running for the 2013 Guardian children's fiction prize. This week it's The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
What's the book about?
When Hazel, just 17 but already a terminal cancer patient, meets Augustus at a support group, both their lives are about to change. She persuades him to read her favourite book, 'An Imperial Affliction', and together they set out to find the reclusive author. But as the two grow closer to one another, they are forced to confront the stark reality that their relationship can only end one way. United by one inspirational story and the desire to live life to the full, they set out on a journey that will redefine everything you think you knew about life. Beset by the 'sick-lit' controversy, this is a raw, poignant and at times heart-breakingly funny story of the tragedy and triumphs of life.
Find out more about the book
Now's your chance to read the book, hear from the author, write a review and enter our young critics' prize.
Interview: John Green talks to site member Patrick
Try the first chapter of The Fault in Our Stars
The book has been a popular choice for Teen book site reviews. Here's our selection of those to take a look at:
Read site member Readr's review
Read site member Lydia's review
Read site member Tjala's review
Read site member Becca.E's review
Read site member Tasha's review
Read site member mariakozhuhar's review
Read site member ThePinkElephant's review
Write your review!
The Young Critics competition is for all young readers to share their views on any of the longlisted books. Anyone under 16 can enter by writing a review of no more than 200 words of one of the books longlisted for the prize. Individuals or school classes can enter and there are great prizes to be won.
You can find out more and enter here.
Two of the Guardian's top children's books critics, Philip Ardagh and Linda Buckley-Archer have given some great advice on writing book reviews. And, of course, it must all be your own work. If you decide to quote from anybody else's review, then you MUST credit them.
Or comment!
If you'd just like to share a quick comment about the book, email it to childrens.books@theguardian.com and we'll add it to this page
Find out more about the Guardian children's fiction prize book club
Your responses
Alicia
The Fault in Our Stars is one of my favourite books and, in my opinion, John's best book yet (although all his work is brilliant). I'm very disappointed that I can't write a review for it as I am 18 but if I did it would simply be filled with enthusiasm for this masterpiece and begging everyone to read it too. It is hilarious and heart-breaking and on at least one occasion it had me going from laughing to sobbing from one sentence to the next. John truly deserves all the recognition he has gained from this book and I hope he only gets better as he writes more and I eagerly await any new books he writes.
