“This Star Won’t Go Out”: The Life and Words of Harry Potter fan Esther Earl

Esther Earl was an aspiring author and avid fan of Harry Potter who died of Thyroid cancer in 2010 at the age of sixteen. Diagnosed with metastasized papillary thyroid cancer with extensive tumors already in her lungs at the age of twelve, Esther Earl was forced to face the mortality of life at a young age and so sought to do her best to improve the world in however many short years she was able to live. Through her love of Harry Potter and due to her limited mobility because her reliance on supplemental oxygen, Esther involved herself with the online fandom community and became an active member of the nonprofit Harry Potter Alliance. She also developed her own online presence with a YouTube channel and became friends with young adult author John Green.

Throughout her life and sickness, Esther journaled about her day to day experiences and her opinions of life and the world. This book, This Star Won’t Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Earl, was compiled by her parents and includes parts of her journals and also various letters, drawings, and fiction. With a forward by John Green, this book intends to share Esther’s story of hope and light. The book will be released on January 28, 2014, but can be preordered on Amazon.

When Esther died August 25, 2010, her loved ones started a charity in her honor. The organization, This Star Won’t Go Out, aims to assist families in affording the high costs of taking care of a child with cancer by providing them with financial gifts. Leakycon has long supported TSWGO, even naming their dance, “The Esther Earl Rocking Charity Ball”, to remember Esther. TSWGO merchandise can be purchased through Dftba Records and all proceeds go to the foundation.

Rest in awesome, Esther.