The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I have long admired Green's willingness to "write up" to young adult readers but who would have thought he could write about two teenagers dying of cancer and still be brilliant and edgy and funny - dark humor as it may be.  Hazel and Gus meet in a cancer support group (sarcastic observations to the max).  They both come to admire the very, very, very intelligent insights in Hazel's favorite book entitled An Imperial Affliction about .... a young girl dying of cancer.  As they seek a connection with the author, they express every angry, honest, wise moment in their journey.  There is nothing cloyingly sweet and heroic about them which keeps this from being the kind of tragedy you might expect.