Responding to "The Fault in Our Stars" Piece by

cdabbott — 2024-10-18 16:49:52 UTC

2024-10-29 19:53:13 UTC

I really loved how the writer's personality shines through in the review. It felt like getting a recommendation from a close friend who was caught-off guard by a book and loved it. It was relatable to how I think about my motivations for reading, often looking for something that is both fun and meaningful for my personal reading. I think one area that could be stronger would be bringing this personality to the start of the review to hook the reader. Maybe start with the resistance to reading this book and then the experiences/suggestion that changed the writer's mind.

2024-10-29 20:28:29 UTC

Glow:

I enjoyed reading this student’s book review. I love how in the final paragraph, the student personally relates to the quote from the book, “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” Further, as the student writes, “After I read this quote, I shouted ‘exactly!’ outloud to myself. Why? Because that’s how I felt about this book. This book is so powerful in every way that I just felt like everyone needed to read it.” The student’s reaction was an incredibly persuasive recommendation. Not to mention, I remember feeling the same way when I read The Fault In Our Stars!

Grow:

As mentioned above, I think the student’s final paragraph was very powerful and captures the reader. I wonder if placing this at the beginning of the piece, rather than the end, would provide a more compelling way to capture the reader’s attention.

2024-10-29 20:56:06 UTC

I loved reading this piece and I especially appreciated how you could really feel the writer's passion for the book shine through. I also appreciated how the writer did not give away the entire plot of the book and instead, gave the reader a short introduction to the story in the second paragraph. I also love how the writer spoke directly to the reader when they say, "Remember to keep a box of tissues next to you while reading it". I think one area for improvement would be to move this quote: “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book” to the beginning of the piece. Starting out with this quote would definitely pull in readers of any age, I believe.

2024-10-29 20:57:33 UTC

Glow: I appreciated how the author's excitement and passion for the text is so evident in her book review. She uses clear, descriptive language to express this enthusiasm, like when she says: " I shouted 'exactly' to myself!" The writer makes reading her review feel like talking with a friend who is sharing a book recommendation. The writer pulled out small, enticing tidbits from the text without giving away too much of the plot. The author is very persuasive with her language use and her excitement shines through!

Grow: I would recommend that the author move the second to last paragraph ("So I've read dozens..." to the beginning of the piece. This would give the review a great hook to draw people in and catch their attention.

2024-10-30 01:25:51 UTC

This is a very heartfelt essay that expresses the deep emotional resonance this student had after reading The Fault in Our Stars, a book she had originally misunderstood, and the student demonstrated a deep understanding of the plot and characters. This student shared her own emotional interactions with the characters, and the students showed her high appreciation for their reading experience of John Green's work, which made the essay more real. In addition, the description of personal experiences in the essay, such as the student writing that she was moved to tears by the characters, and connecting with real-life emotions, made me have a more intuitive, real and emotional reading experience.

2024-10-30 02:01:34 UTC

Reading this piece made me think so much about the place of voice in writing as this writer's voice is so clear. Some of my favorite papers to read from my students are when their voices are so detectable in their pieces. This makes me wonder why for some student it enters into their writing so naturally and for others why it does not. What might be the barriers? I wonder what moves I can make as a teacher to help students find and use their voice in their writing more freely. I am honestly paralyzed about putting a grow here after this week's readings! I am very much rethinking how to respond to writing. Maybe I would ask this writer a question about why they may feel inhibited about experiencing emotions while reading books. Today in my own class we were brainstorming reading challenges and a student in my class said "sad books" or book with "sad parts" are a big challenge for them.

2024-10-30 11:41:23 UTC

I enjoyed reading this piece and like how you can hear the students voice through their writing. This student’s review of The Fault in Our Stars demonstrates a deep personal connection to the text, marked by initial reluctance and an eventual emotional impact that reshaped their perspective. Initially hesitant to read another “sad” cancer story, the student’s vulnerability in sharing this shows how the book defied expectations and left a lasting mark. Their reflection on the emotional resonance of reading versus watching a movie adds another layer, highlighting how the nature of words allows for deeper reflection. The student’s response to the book’s themes, particularly how it led them to appreciate their relationships, shows how fiction can transcend the page and influence real life. They also appreciate John Green’s narrative balance, observing how he blends “pain, struggle, and terrible circumstances” with “happy, heart-melting memories” in a way that keeps readers engaged and reflective. Finally, they praise Green’s writing style, noting that his characters are so engaging it was impossible to put the book down. These insights reveal how the student connects with the novel on both a literary and personal level, underscoring the power of storytelling to change perspectives.

2024-10-30 13:51:31 UTC

Glow: I really appreciate how vulnerable the author was when making connections to the text. I could hear their voice throughout and understood the impact the novel had on them. The integration of the quote was especially powerful because it reflected a critical moment for this student as they read. The excitement conveyed by the student made me want to read/reread the text, which is the ultimate goal of a book review. I also really appreciated how they cared not to spoil the book.

Grow: One area where I think the student could grow is to think about how the first paragraph can immediately draw the reader to the book. I thought the second paragraph did this effectively so I would encourage them to maybe use elements of that in their intro.

2024-10-30 16:56:13 UTC

After reading this piece, it was evident that the author's tone drew you in to learn their unique perspectives of the novel The Fault in Our Stars. I appreciated the students' change of opinion after reading the story. They could give the book a chance and apply it to their lives. I would love for the writer to explore and provide details on how the book made them appreciate their youth because they highlighted that as an outcome of reading the YA novel. Additionally, I would suggest a growth for a semester goal is to use fluff words. I want the writer to choose fewer descriptive words and pick one empowering rather than multiple. Overall, the student's writing was powerful and drew a deep connection to the text. They wrote a robust book review that might even compel me to read this novel as I have yet too.

2024-10-30 17:12:37 UTC

The author dove deep and surprised themselves about being caught off guard and liking a book they normally would avoid because of the emotions and themes it brings up. They brought up both the affective reaction to connecting with the characters (“the characters were so unique I honestly felt like I was Hazel”), summarizing important plot points, and naming writing strategies John Green used to captivate the audience. It felt important to see how the message and content of the story drove the author to action.

I’d love the author to think about why it’s important that they were surprised by this book not being full of sad content and why they think a “cancer book” should be a certain way. However, the author is already being vulnerable in sharing they had “no interest” because of repeated sad stories and movies about cancer, so I wonder if the author can name more about their thinking and when their thinking shifted with this book, in a way that focuses on their experience with the text.