When we think of some of the best young adult novels ever written, they all have one thing in common: they’re written by the genius that is John Green. With millions of copies sold worldwide, Green is the mastermind behind beloved novels like The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns, and Turtles All the Way Down—all of which have been adapted into fan-favorite, blockbuster films. He also authored Looking for Alaska and Everything Is Tuberculosis. Green’s award-winning work has touched the lives of countless readers and made a tremendous impact in more ways than we can imagine.

Not only did Green revolutionize the young adult fiction genre, but he and his brother, Hank Green, also helped pioneer the world of online video. In 2007, the dynamic duo launched a one-of-a-kind project, halting all text communication and instead speaking exclusively through videos shared on their “Vlogbrothers” YouTube channel. Just three years later, they co-founded VidCon, a massive conference celebrating online video creators that continues to draw thousands of attendees from around the world. Through their Crash Course YouTube channel, the Green brothers have also played an influential role in education, producing informative and engaging videos on topics ranging from history to science.

Despite his unparalleled success in both literature and digital media, one of John Green’s most meaningful achievements is his dedication to giving back. Together with Hank, he launched the Project for Awesome initiative, which has helped raise over $200,000 for the Thirst Project to date. In recognition of their extraordinary efforts to bring clean, safe drinking water to communities in need, the Thirst Project honored the Green brothers with the Cameron Boyce Pioneering Spirit Award.

Needless to say, the world is a much better place because John Green is in it—and we’re incredibly grateful for the positive difference he continues to make.

I had the honor of interviewing the prolific John Green at the 2025 Thirst Gala. We spoke about what it meant for him to be honored at such an inspiring event, what advice he has for fans looking to support incredible causes like the Thirst Project, what he’s taken away from working on his iconic projects including The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns, and so much more only in our VIPAccessEXCLUSIVE interview. Green also shared details about some exciting upcoming projects, including a new novel—hear what he had to say in our interview.

To learn more about the Thirst Project, visit here.