Genre: Contemporary, Coming-of-age, realistic fiction
Pages: 213
Format: Hardback
Source: Library
Format: Hardback
Source: Library
" Charlie is a freshman.
And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.
Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor. "
I had high hopes for this book when I went into it and I was disappointed.
This coming of age book is odd because I always picture coming of age stories to be something most people can relate too, but I'm not sure if anyone can relate to Charlie. Charlie is this young boy, fifteen/sixteen years old, and has no friends and is an emotional wreck. I did find some things funny but somethings strange. This book contains subjects like rape, drugs, molestation, and all these other things and they were basically so shrugged off.
Not only that, but Charlie is so stupid.
I mean, how can you be that smart but so stupid
Yes, the book takes place in the 90s, but I'm pretty sure all teens knew
what "masturbation" was and knew what would happen if you took acid.
The author focuses on how Charlie get's these reading assignments from Bill, his honors English teacher. Apparently, Charlie's writing is just amazing and he's so intelligent, yet he doesn't know about masturbation, sex, rape, drugs, or anything else a teenager would know about. You would know about these things, sure, maybe you haven't experienced them, but you would know.
The author focuses on how Charlie get's these reading assignments from Bill, his honors English teacher. Apparently, Charlie's writing is just amazing and he's so intelligent, yet he doesn't know about masturbation, sex, rape, drugs, or anything else a teenager would know about. You would know about these things, sure, maybe you haven't experienced them, but you would know.
Just so many things about Charlie unnerved me. It's like the author was trying to give him faults but trying to make him good at the same time, and that made things unrealistic.
Now about the other main characters, Patrick and Sam.
Patrick was a senior in high school and was introduced while he was in shop class with Charlie.
Patrick seems to be this care-free guy that likes to get this innocent kid, Charlie, mixed up in drugs and alcohol.
Then we have Sam, this beautiful girl and Patrick's step-sister. She had no real distinct personality.
Neither did Patrick, but I guess you could say that Sam is exactly the same way.
All in all, the characters were bland and flat and had no emotional impact on me. The writing was easy to read and I somewhat enjoyed the book. But with the lacking depth of the characters, it was just disappointing.
Now about the other main characters, Patrick and Sam.
Patrick was a senior in high school and was introduced while he was in shop class with Charlie.
Patrick seems to be this care-free guy that likes to get this innocent kid, Charlie, mixed up in drugs and alcohol.
Then we have Sam, this beautiful girl and Patrick's step-sister. She had no real distinct personality.
Neither did Patrick, but I guess you could say that Sam is exactly the same way.
All in all, the characters were bland and flat and had no emotional impact on me. The writing was easy to read and I somewhat enjoyed the book. But with the lacking depth of the characters, it was just disappointing.
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