Sometimes funny, sometimes emotional, this is a very touching novel. We follow the coming of age of young Charlie and, to a certain extent, his friends, in the not so distant world of the 1990s. Personnally, I was really drawn to Charlie, his high intelligence and his sensitivity, and some of the things written really resonated in me. 
 I expected a different ending, but that one was brilliantly executed, although I wish we could have followed our protagonists a little while longer.