I would have given this book four stars if I would have read it 15 years ago. Truly, it still does deserve the four stars, my emotional maturity by no means does not take away from the brilliance of chbosky'ss novel, i just was not the right audience for it. The way in which it was written, through "Charlie" writing letters nearly to a stranger whom he addresses as "Dear Friend". This choice of epistolary, the structure of the narrative makes it impossible for charlie to be a stranger to the reader. It works very well, better then it would have if it had been written in the first person, It became a fictional autobiography, and we -the reader- were able to get to know this character in such a personal way, by the what Charlie choose to mention or not mention, to elaborate or to keep brief, by the words he choose, it became just as if you were reading letters from a dear friend long distance. 
 The entire time I was reading about Sam and Charlie's relationship/ friendship, I was able to relate a remarkable similar friendship/ relationship that I was in. Charlie reminded me so very much of a young man that I once knew by the name of Benjamin Stratz and Sam reminded me of myself at that particular time in my life. Charlie's character is one of supreme intellect who does not quite know how remarkable he is which is part of his charm, and he is charming. Charlie is a little too sensitive most of the time, he is highly perceptive, shy, naive, idealistic and frightened (of what I believe are his constant and overwhelming thoughts and his inability to distance himself from them and partake in life regardless of his perspective). Sam is Charlies best friend aside from her gay stepbrother Patrick. is not only beutiful to charlie (in an "unconventional way") she is a good friend, she is caring and thoughtful to charlie and everyone else. Sam is an assertive young woman and is quite sure of herself for an 18 year old. She is almost as sure of who she wants, as she is sure of what it is Sam wants and who Sam is. 
 Charlie has a teacher named Bill that is constantly giving him books, then asks him to write essays on them, he even gives him some classic films. All for the purpose of allowing Charlie to be Charlie, to be that smart, that perceptive and that introspective. This teacher is his biggest ally. By the end of the year He invites charlie to his condo to meet his girlfriend and have dinner and say goodbye because Bill will no longer be teaching where Charlie is schooled. Bill tells him that he gave him all those books and all that extra work because "He is one of the smartest and most special person he has ever met, not just as a student but as a person. Charlie writes in his letter about this discussion by saying" He was talking real. It was strange" I took this to mean. That Charlie saw authenticity behind his words and that seemed strange to him because most people are not genuine in Charlies life. There are also many good quotes within this book. one of my personal favorites is Charlie describing Sam when he observed her after her break up. ... "She is not bitter. She is sad, not a bitter kind of sad. It is a hopeful kind of sad. The kind of sad that just takes time." I love that quote so very much because that is how I have felt lately, (freshly out of a breakup) and I hope others can see that quite, strong beauty and that it is how I too am 'the kind of sad that just takes time' feel. I am glad I did not give up on this book. I wish I had read it those 15 years ago.