Book Review: Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love. 

My Thoughts...

    Last Christmas vacation, I read a book called A Fault in Our Stars. My favorite character, and also the main character of the book was Hazel Grave Lancaster. She was a sixteen-year-old American girl who had cancer in her lungs. Since that time she thought everything was the side effect of dying. Once in the support group she met two teenagers who were called Isaac and Augustus. Augustus had had one leg amputate.  After the support group, Augustus invited Hazel to his home and had a long onversation. Hazel recommended her favorite book,  An Imperial Affliction to Augustus, but this was an incomplete book. Then, the whole story commences about the book. They had a special experience about different people, love and death. Hazel underwent her most beautiful sixteenth year.  

        Why Hazel is my favorite character? At first, I just simply felt compassionate about Hazel. But then I found that she was wise to some extent. For the world she lived in, she had her own understanding. And I like her understanding even if it seems a little bit weird. For example, she said, 'almost everything is a side effect of dying'. I thought she was right. Some of the cancer people thought only cancer people could understand cancer people. I think that is a side effort of dying, too. They are utterly wrong. The thing that made them think we couldn't communicate is their cancer, and that their death may come early, but actually people's fear of death is the same. So I think we can understand them if they don't refuse. One of the reasons I liked Hazel is she didn't always care about cancer. She seldom thought something like' I'm cancerous person, so I can't……'. In the book I found  I liked her love of family and friends, her temperament, and her hobby. She never discarded herself.  She liked reading books. I  laughed when she dressed like the main character in her favorite book to meet the author—— it seems a little bit idiotic isn't it? But that is exactly what I used to do too. Maybe we are the same to some extent... When she became my favorite character was when Augustus's cancer suddenly relapsed, but asked her not to call 911. I couldn't be calm when my best love suffered from bad pain, but Hazel did. She called 911 in spite of Augustus saying he would never forgive her if she did that. Then she grabbed his face in her hand, and said,' I love you.'  I was really moved at that moment, before the ambulance found them. Hazel stopped Augustus from shirking, and forced both of them to face the truth. At that time I know how strong she was. She didn’t panic, or cry. Since then I have to confess I admired her.

        I was so grateful that Hazel could become acquainted with Augustus and full in love with him in her lifetime. I was so grateful that I could get acquainted Hazel, too. She changed my thinking about cancer and cancerous people. She showed me what love in youth looked like. What's more, she gave me a new impression of life and death. I hope more and more people could share this special journey with me. Perhaps we may get different understanding and draw different conclusion, but trust me please. This is something that shouldn't be missed. 

       

-Lily

Book Review: a Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle

It was a dark and stormy night; Meg Murry, her small brother Charles Wallace, and her mother had come down to the kitchen for a midnight snack when they were upset by the arrival of a most disturbing stranger.

"Wild nights are my glory," the unearthly stranger told them. "I just got caught in a downdraft and blown off course. Let me be on my way. Speaking of way, by the way, there is such a thing as a tesseract".

Meg's father had been experimenting with this fifth dimension of time travel when he mysteriously disappeared. Now the time has come for Meg, her friend Calvin, and Charles Wallace to rescue him. But can they outwit the forces of evil they will encounter on their heart-stopping journey through space? 

My Thoughts...

The book "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L'Engle is about the adventure of siblings Meg and Charles Wallace Murry and their classmate Calvin O'Keefe in which they try to rescue Meg and Charles's father. It is an exciting science fiction novel that was first published back in 1962.  Since 1962, the book has been made into a television series, movie, play, opera and graphic novel.

After a troubled girl named Meg and her five-year old genius brother Charles Wallace's father mysteriously disappears while experimenting with the tesseract, they are joined by three immortal creatures, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs Who, and Mrs. Which, alongside Meg's classmate Calvin O'Keefe to help save him. Due to the fact that their father is being imprisoned on another planet, the three Mrs. W's transport Meg, Charles and Calvin to the planet of Camazotz where they must take on the evil leader "IT".

Although "IT" is a giant disembodied brain, "IT" is much smarter than Charles Wallace and soon possesses Charles and makes him into a robot-like creature.  What had started as a rescue mission for Meg and Charles's father turns into a rescue mission for Charles too.  This book ends in a way one must only read!

Not being a very big reader, I was lost trying to choose a book for my ISP.  I was very glad Mrs. G. recommended to me "A Wrinkle in Time".  The book is interesting, easy to read and unique.  After reading this book, I have no complaints and would definitely recommend it to anyone.

-Matthew