The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I've got another young adult title as my selection for this week, but as with The Book Thief, this novel can (and should) be appreciated by teens and adults alike. The Fault in Our Stars is an enormously popular novel by author and web sensation John Green. It is a #1 New York Times Bestseller, with starred reviews from Booklist, SLJ, Publisher’s Weekly, Horn Book, and Kirkus.

Hazel Lancaster and Augustus Waters meet at a cancer support group and instantly make a connection. She has terminal lung cancer and his bone cancer is in remission, though it took one of his legs. The two of them bond over books and witty repartee, but Hazel resists falling in love because she doesn't want to leave him brokenhearted when she passes away.

Green's novel is tremendously funny and sad and will probably leave you in tears. The portrayal of the self aware cancer patients is true-to-life - they are not always heroes and not always fighters - they are at times sad, terrified, and selfish. The depth and complexity of these two and their romance is wonderful. However, the way Hazel and Augustus talk is somewhat pretentious and stilted, and you will find it hard to believe that anyone - including teenagers - would talk the way they do. Unfortunately, there is no happily-ever-after for these star-crossed lovers, but teens and adults will appreciate the beautiful love story and new perspective on life that Hazel and Gus show us.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan is a fictionalized account of the true story of the love affair between famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his mistress, Mamah Borthwick Cheney. Both trapped in loveless marriages, they are drawn to each other despite struggling to stay apart. Love blooms between them, and they begin an affair - and a nationwide scandal - that will last years. Written from Mamah's perspective, the book is a fascinating exploration of two people in love, living in opposition to their society's suffocating moral beliefs.

Of course the novel is historical, but at its heart, it is a love story. The romance between Frank and Mamah is never sappy or cloying, and the two characters are drawn with depth and detail. However, this causes other secondary characters to fall flat, especially Mamah's sister, Lizzie, and her best friend Mattie. Although not much is known about Mamah, the few fictionalized letters and diary entires add a realistic dimension to the novel, as well as the depiction of the scandal that erupts when the affair is revealed to the public by the newspapers. Loving Frank is well worth the read for anyone who enjoys history, romance, or wants to know more about the lover of master architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian