John Green’s bestseller, The Fault in Our Stars was turned into a film and has an exciting real inspiration; know the true story
Released in January 2012, the book The Fault in Our Stars became a bestseller. Written by John Green, it was even adapted into a film, which became a phenomenon in 2014. The film will be shown this Monday, 5th, in the Afternoon Session, on TV Globo.
In the film, the audience learns the story of young Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley). When diagnosed with cancer, she stays alive thanks to an experimental drug. Fighting the illness, she joins a Christian support group and meets Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort).
The young man, who was also diagnosed with cancer, is very different from his new friend. While Hazel worries about the pain she will cause family members, Waters wants to leave her name in the world. Facing their differences, they fall in love while trying to stay strong and optimistic.
With a gripping narrative, many may ask if John Green was inspired by a true story. Well, the characters and the story are fictional, however, the author was inspired by the trajectory of Esther Grace Earl, who passed away from cancer in 2010.
Real story
Esther passed away at the age of 16 after battling thyroid cancer. A friend of the writer, she supported him in writing The Fault in Our Stars, explains Veja Magazine. The diagnosis came in 2006, when she had breathing difficulties. So, she started using an oxygen tank.
Scene from the film ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ – Disclosure
She met John Green in 2009 when she attended a Harry Potter fan conference. There a friendship arose that lasted until the day he passed away and inspired the author.
In an interview with Goodreads in 2012, Green explained that the book would not exist if he had not met Esther.
I could never have written this book if I hadn’t met Esther. She introduced me to many ideas, especially hope in a world that is indifferent to individuals. She redefined dying young for me. After meeting her, I discovered that a short life could be a rich life,” he said during the interview.
In fact, after his friend’s death, John created ‘Esther Day’, celebrated every August 3rd, the day that marks Esther’s birth. The writer’s goal is for the date to celebrate family and love, something that Earl valued extremely highly.
In addition, Wayne and Lori, the girl’s parents, created “This Star Won’t Go Out”, a non-profit organization that helps families with children fighting cancer.
Book
Another exciting fact about the trajectory of the girl who inspired ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ is that her journey was told in the book ‘The Star that Never Goes Out’.
Photo by Esther Grace Earl – Personal Archive
With a preface by Green and notes from Esther’s parents, the book presents stories, diaries and letters from the young woman, who intended to publish them independently.
When he presented the material to Green, he decided to present it to his editor, who chose to publish it with personal archive photos and portraying the last years of young Esther’s life.