The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 🔖🔖🔖

First published January 10, 2012

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Literary awards: Georgia Peach Book Award (2013), Buxtehuder Bulle (2012), Odyssey Award (2013), Audie Award for Teens (2013), West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA) for Older Readers (2013), Teen Buckeye Book Award (2014), Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award for Young Adults (2013), Rhode Island Teen Book Award (2014), Evergreen Teen Book Award (2015), Soaring Eagle Book Award (2014), Milwaukee County Teen Book Award (2013), Indies Choice Book Award for Young Adult (2013), Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for Preis der Jugendjury (2013), Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award (2013), Dioraphte Jongerenliteratuurprijs for vertaald boek en publieksprijs (2013), The Inky Awards for Silver Inky (2012), California Young Readers Medal for Young Adult (2015), Lincoln Award (2014), Luisterboek Award (2015), Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction (2012) and Nominee for Best of the Best (2018), Green Mountain Book Award (2014), The Inky Awards Shortlist for Silver Inky (2012), Louisiana Teen Readers' Choice (2015), Gateway Readers Award (2015), Oklahoma Sequoyah Award for High School (2015), Alabama Author Award for Young Adult (2013), Premio El Templo de las Mil Puertas for Mejor novela extranjera independiente (2012), FAB Award Nominee (2014), Premi Protagonista Jove for Categoria 14-16 anys (2012)

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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. (source: goodreads)

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Not being a fan of the author, I hesitated to read this one, only doing so as it is banned, and I love to read banned books. That being said, I didn't hate it. I didn't love it, but didn't hate it like I did another book from the same author. Maybe my pleasant surprise makes me rate this a 3 rather than a 2.
The characters were typical, unbelievable, and did not develop any further than first introduction. The plot was nothing new. Yet, it was an easy read, not painful like other books, and I didn't feel like I wasted my time.

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Why this was banned:  morbid plot, crude language, and sexual content. 

Further, there is reportedly the death of a loved one; alcohol use by minors; references to alcoholism and drug use; and controversial religious, historical, and social commentary.

My take --

Morbid plot: yes. Kids have cancer, one presented as terminal from the start of the book. One character looses his eyes to cancer. There is mention of some kids having died. 

Crude language: A bit. 1 F word, but lots of S word, and a few others. 

Sexual content:  Two of the characters do have sex, though it is described only briefly and not with explicit detail.

Death of a loved one: See "morbid plot". 

Alcohol use by minors: Yes. Two of the teen characters drink champagne at dinner. 

References to alcoholism and drug use: There is a character who is presented as an alocholic.  I don't recall the drug use, though there is discussion about medications for cancer symptoms, including pain. 

Controversial religious, historical, and social commentary:  I missed this, so I don't think it was very obvious. 

Would I hate my teenager reading this?  No. We could have some good discussions.