The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

"Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. 

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. 

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind."

Oh My God. If I could give this six stars, I would. I'm not usually into reading "cancer books," the kinds of books that are sad for the sake of being sad, but this was so much more than that. The characters were really intelligent and interesting, and it made me laugh almost as much as it made me cry. It has some of the best quotes ever in it, ones that'll start to make you re-evaluate what the heck you're doing in the universe.Um, just be warned--don't read the last third of the book: a) before bed or b) without a huge box of tissues nearby. I think I said in an earlier review that I have tear ducts of steel--um, I don't think I can claim that anymore. This literally made me bawl like a baby. Sad, I know, but you try reading it without getting emotional. I think it's pretty much impossible. Anyway, this is definitely getting introduced into my personal collection for good. If I could reach through this computer screen and hand you the book and force you to read it, I would, but I guess I'll have to settle for shameless bribery and threats: any reader will get virtual hugs from me, and anyone who ignores this will have to be blackmailed. Go forth and read, my child. You won't regret it. It's at Kettleson, MEHS, or SHS. Ta-ta!