I read this years ago, but when I saw that a movie was being made based on this book, I wanted to read it again. I am not sure that I'm going to see the movie; lately I've been feeling that movie makers have been making too many books into movies. Can't they come up with their own stories?? Besides, in my experience, the books are always better!
This story is told through the eyes of Charlie, a freshman in high school. Charlie is a very intelligent but odd loner who ends up making friends with a group of seniors. He functions as the sensitive, supportive younger brother of the group, always sticking up for and supporting his friends. Reading about his experience as a high school student brought back a lot of memories for me; Chbosky does an excellent job of creating a realistic teenage boy's character and voice. (I asked my students to read this so they can tell me if they feel that Charlie represents a realistic teenager too.)
The book is written through a series of letters from Charlie to "Dear Friend". The writing style and structure itself helps the reader connect to Charlie and his story as it unfolds. Truely, Charlie has a unique, humorous voice and tells his story so honestly that it is sometimes heartbreaking. Overall, Charlie represnts the reality of being a teenager: fitting in, friendship, love, family, and how to cope with difficult experiences.
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