John Green, the acclaimed novelist, was born on August 22, 1977, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Just three weeks after his birth, John Green’s family relocated to Orlando, Florida—a move that would later shape parts of his literary world. Growing up, John Green attended Lake Highland Preparatory School and then transferred to Indian Springs School, a boarding school whose atmosphere and environment would go on to inspire the setting for his debut novel, Looking for Alaska, published in 2005.
During his teenage years, John Green faced significant challenges, including being bullied, which he has openly discussed as making his adolescence a deeply difficult and unhappy period. Despite these struggles, he went on to attend Kenyon College in Ohio, where John Green pursued a double major in English and Religious Studies, ultimately graduating in 2000.
His path took a pivotal turn when he worked as a student chaplain at a children’s hospital in Chicago. Those experiences, especially connecting with young patients battling chronic illnesses, profoundly impacted John Green. Though he had once considered becoming an Episcopal minister, he eventually chose a different calling—writing. That decision led to one of his most celebrated works, The Fault In Our Stars, released in January 2012. The novel was an instant success, debuting at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list, further cementing John Green’s place in contemporary literature.
Beyond his novels, John Green has made a significant impact online. In 2007, he launched the video project “Brotherhood” alongside his brother Hank Green—a creative collaboration that documented their ongoing conversations and evolved into a broader digital movement. Together with his wife, Sarah Urist Green, a museum curator, John Green co-founded the “Project for Awesome.” This annual YouTube event encourages creators to make videos supporting charities of their choice, effectively turning internet culture into a force for good. Through both his writing and digital outreach, John Green continues to influence readers and viewers alike, blending empathy, storytelling, and community engagement in meaningful ways.
Well, when it comes to John Green’s work, things get a little interesting. His highest rated movie—actually, his most talked-about project in recent years—is Turtles All the Way Down (2024). And oddly enough, the same title, Turtles All the Way Down (2024), also happens to be considered his lowest rated release. Yeah, you heard that right. John Green really stirred up some mixed reactions with this one. So, while fans of John Green were definitely eager to see how his storytelling would translate on screen, the responses ended up being pretty divided. It’s kind of fascinating, really—John Green puts out a film like Turtles All the Way Down and it ends up at both ends of the rating spectrum. Definitely makes you think. Still, there’s no denying that John Green continues to make an impact, whether people love it or not.