This was a good book. Because of the depressing nature, it isn't anything I'll ever read again. Two star-crossed teenage lovers who are both dying of cancer isn't usually a story that jumps out at me screaming to be read, but my librarian recommended it so I gave it a try. I was surprised to discover that the author wasn't dying himself or didn't have a close family member struggling from cancer, because he wrote the book extremely well from a dying person's point of view. Themes I heard from some of my dying patients were echoed in this story: anger, dismay, acceptance of the inevitable, and a repulsion to being pitied. An incredible insight into the sacredness of fleetingness of life is also contained. The romance was surprisingly believable and deep, with self sacrifice and caring involved. It's also one of those books that reminds me of the frailty of my own life. Death stares you in the face on every page. 
 A couple of things I didn't like about this book: The author used A LOT of big, mostly unknown words. I don't know why authors do this; like they wish to prove their own intellectualism by using words they're sure their readers will be impressed by. What they fail to realize is that the regular reader isn't going to be impressed, but unable to understand and therefore unable to fully relate. 
 Also, the way the kids talked in this book reminded me of the high-schoolers in that silly 90s flick "10 Things I Hate About You." The teens in that movie spoke in a way that was way too witty or linguistically advanced for their developmental age. It's like the kids were spouting words from a much older mind. That was the case with this book. The teens were much too wise (I know cancer brings some sort of experience and maturity to a young person, but not wisdom) and they were never awkward and said things much too insightful for their age. Some authors like Lauren Oliver and Jennifer Donnelly write very well from the teen point-of-view, with correct language and thought patterns. This book, you could tell, was an adult's thoughts coming through a much younger character. Or is this just my nurse mind that has been extensively educated about developmental stages in life just over-analyzing this particular aspect of the book? All in all, this point of my review did not detract from the overall story line. 
 It was also interesting reading about death from the point of view of this character, who has no belief in God or an afterlife. Death, sucky as it is while going through it in a physical state, is something that I know is not the end. It's a stepping stone, a gate which I have to pass through to get to eternal life and happiness. I know the point of this life here on earth. Death to this character was much bleaker a business than it would be to me (of course I say this having never dealt with terminal illness!) Still, I think this was a good example of how faith in a higher power could really help during a terrible trial such as cancer.