The Perks of Being a ­Wallflower is the brilliant story of young Charlie. As he ventures through high school, he enters doors he never knew existed. Through his letters readers feel his pain and heartbreak, his happiness, and the feeling of the infinite.

This book is a coming-of-age novel that will surely touch everyone who reads the letters Charlie writes to an unknown person. You see him transform from a shy, introspective, ­intelligent “wallflower.”

This book is more intimate than any diary. Every teen can relate in some way to Charlie. Many experience similar problems making friends, having crushes, experiencing family tensions, exploring sexuality, and dealing with depression and drug experimentation. He also struggles with his best friend's suicide and his beloved aunt's death.

I recommend The Perks of Being a Wallflower to everyone. Beautifully written and touching, this novel has made me feel like I'm not alone.