John Green facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Green
Green in 2024
Born	John Michael Green (1977-08-24) August 24, 1977 (age 47) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Occupation	Author vlogger philanthropist
Alma mater	Kenyon College (BA)
Period	2005–present
Genre	Young adult fiction bildungsroman romance
Notable works	Looking for Alaska (2005) The Fault in Our Stars (2012) Turtles All the Way Down (2017) The Anthropocene Reviewed (2018–2021) Vlogbrothers (2007–present) Crash Course (2012–present)
Notable awards	Michael L. Printz Award 2006 Looking for Alaska Edgar Award 2009 Paper Towns
Spouse	Sarah Urist Green ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	2
Relatives	Hank Green (brother)
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John Michael Green (born August 24, 1977) is an American author and YouTuber. He is famous for his young adult novels. His books have sold over 50 million copies worldwide. One of his most popular books is The Fault in Our Stars (2012). This book is one of the best-selling books ever.

John Green is also well-known for his online videos. He creates content with his younger brother, Hank Green. They have a popular YouTube channel called Vlogbrothers. Their unique style changed the world of young adult fiction.

John Green's Early Life and School

John Michael Green was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on August 24, 1977. His family moved several times when he was young. They lived in Michigan, Alabama, and Florida. He went to middle school and high school in Florida. When he was 15, he attended a boarding school in Alabama.

John Green has always struggled with anxiety and obsessive–compulsive disorder. He has also talked about being bullied in high school. These experiences made his teenage years difficult.

He went to Kenyon College in Ohio. He studied English and religious studies. He graduated in 2000. After college, he worked for six months as a student chaplain at a children's hospital. This experience was very tough. It made him want to become a writer. It also inspired his book The Fault in Our Stars.

Becoming a Writer and YouTuber

First Books and Awards

In 2001, John Green started working at Booklist. This is a magazine that reviews books. He reviewed many books there. He also wrote essays for radio shows. While working at Booklist, he met author Ilene Cooper. She encouraged him to write his own novel.

He started writing his first book, Looking for Alaska, in 2001. The story was inspired by his time at boarding school. It was published in March 2005. The book won the Michael L. Printz Award in 2006. This award is for the best book written for teens. Winning the award made his book very popular.

In 2005, John Green moved to New York City. He published his second novel, An Abundance of Katherines, in September 2006. This book is a funny story about a smart teenager who always dates girls named Katherine. It was also a finalist for a major book prize.

Starting YouTube with His Brother

On January 1, 2007, John and his brother Hank started a video blog. It was called Brotherhood 2.0. They posted videos to each other on their YouTube channel, Vlogbrothers. They decided not to use text messages. This project became very popular.

Their fans are called "Nerdfighters". This community is very active online. They support many good causes. One important fan was Esther Earl. She became friends with the Green brothers. She passed away from cancer at 16. John Green said Esther inspired the main character in The Fault in Our Stars.

The Nerdfighters also created Project for Awesome. This is an annual online fundraiser. It started in 2007. People vote for charities, and money is raised. In 2024, the event raised over $3.5 million.

In 2010, the brothers started VidCon. This is a big conference for online video creators and fans. It brings together many popular YouTubers. It also has discussions about online video. VidCon became a huge annual event.

Big Success with The Fault in Our Stars

John Green's fourth solo novel was The Fault in Our Stars. It was released on January 10, 2012. The story is about a 16-year-old girl with cancer. She falls in love with a boy she meets at a support group. John Green was inspired by his time at the children's hospital and his friendship with Esther Earl.

A tour van decorated for The Fault in Our Stars book tour in 2012

The book was incredibly successful. It became a number one best-seller even before it was released. It stayed at the top of The New York Times Best Seller list for a long time. John Green signed 150,000 copies of the first printing.

A movie based on The Fault in Our Stars was released on June 6, 2014. It was a huge hit. It made over $307 million worldwide. John Green was involved in making the movie. He even had a small role that was cut from the final film. The success of the book and movie made John Green very famous. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2014.

Green at Vidcon in 2014

Another one of his books, Paper Towns, was also made into a movie. It was released in 2015. John Green was an executive producer for this film.

Educational Videos and Podcasts

John and Hank Green also started Crash Course in 2012. This YouTube channel offers free educational videos. They cover topics like history, literature, and science. John Green has hosted many of these series. The channel has grown to cover 44 different subjects.

To fund their educational projects, the brothers started Subbable in 2013. This was a platform where people could subscribe and donate money to creators. It was later bought by Patreon.

John Green sporting a mustache during "Pizzamas" in 2020

Every year, John and Hank celebrate "Pizzamas". They sell merchandise with a cartoon of "Pizza John". All the money raised goes to charities. One of the main charities is Partners In Health.

In June 2015, John and Hank started a weekly podcast called Dear Hank & John. They answer questions from listeners and give funny advice. They also share news about Mars and AFC Wimbledon, a soccer team John supports.

Later Works and Charity Work

Turtles All the Way Down

After the huge success of The Fault in Our Stars, John Green felt a lot of pressure. He took a break from social media to focus on writing. He also struggled with his anxiety during this time.

John and Hank Green and their tour bus during the 2017 book tour for Turtles All The Way Down

His fifth solo novel, Turtles All the Way Down, was released on October 10, 2017. It quickly became a number one best-seller. The story is about a 16-year-old girl with obsessive–compulsive disorder and anxiety. John Green said this book was very personal. It was his first time writing directly about his own mental health struggles.

The Anthropocene Reviewed

In January 2018, John Green started a solo podcast called The Anthropocene Reviewed. In this podcast, he reviews different parts of the Anthropocene. This is the time period where humans have greatly impacted the Earth. He reviews things like Diet Dr. Pepper or Canada geese on a five-star scale. He shares personal stories about how these things have affected his life.

He turned these essays into a book, The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet. It was published in May 2021. This was his first non-fiction book. It also became a number one best-seller. The book includes revised essays from the podcast and new ones. It tells stories from his life, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Helping Global Health

Since the mid-2010s, John Green and his family have strongly supported Partners In Health (PIH). This is a non-profit organization that helps public health around the world. They have donated millions of dollars through Project for Awesome and other efforts.

John Green in the Kissy Psychiatric Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in April 2019

In 2019, John and his wife Sarah visited Sierra Leone. They were inspired to help fight maternal mortality there. They pledged $6.5 million to PIH's work in Sierra Leone. This money helps staff and support health centers.

John Green became a trustee for Partners in Health in 2022. In 2023, he led a successful campaign. He pushed a company to allow cheaper versions of a tuberculosis drug to be made. This helps more people around the world get the medicine they need. He also urged another company to lower the cost of tuberculosis tests.

In March 2024, John and Hank Green pledged $1 million a year through 2027. This money, along with other funds, will help fight tuberculosis in the Philippines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named John Green a "TB Elimination Champion" in 2024.

His second non-fiction book, Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection, was published in March 2025. In the book, he shares the history of tuberculosis. He also tells the story of a young patient he met in Sierra Leone.

Personal Life and Interests

John Green with his wife Sarah Urist Green in 2008

John Green is married to Sarah Urist Green. They have two children. They met in high school. John Green has lived in Indianapolis, Indiana, since 2007. He loves the city, and it is often a setting in his books. The mayors of Indianapolis and Orange County, Florida, have even declared "John Green Day" in his honor.

John Green is a big sports fan. He supports the English soccer club Liverpool F.C.. He is also an official sponsor of another English soccer team, AFC Wimbledon. Their shorts have a "Nerdfighters" emblem on them. He used to play FIFA video games on YouTube. He donated the money from these videos to the team.

Books by John Green

Fiction Books

• Looking for Alaska (2005)
• An Abundance of Katherines (2006)
• Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances (2008) – with Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle
• Paper Towns (2008)
• Will Grayson, Will Grayson (2010) – with David Levithan
• The Fault in Our Stars (2012)
• Turtles All the Way Down (2017)

Non-fiction Books

• The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet (2021)
• Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection (2025)

Film and TV Work

Awards and Recognition

See also

In Spanish: John Green para niños