From my list on books for teenagers about stuff parents don’t—or can’t—discuss.
Why am I passionate about this?
I understand how stressful it is to be a teenager today. And we’re talking stress across a variety of fronts, from academics to personal matters and everything in between. In my book on college admissions, I advise high schoolers to use data so they can get the most value from their university education as well as reduce the anxiety of what can be an overwhelming process. In my book recommendations, I’ve chosen novels the teenaged me thought honestly depicted the emotional challenges teenagers face and how those challenges are resolved. Whether it be applying to college or developing relationships, the key is to be authentic in who you are!
Anna's book list on books for teenagers about stuff parents don’t—or can’t—discuss
Why did Anna love this book?
I had an out-of-body experience reading this book! Because it’s written in the first person, the way the narrator—who has mental disabilities—describes his life after undergoing surgery to improve his capabilities becomes increasingly fluid and sophisticated.
The reader literally witnesses Charlie Gordon’s transformation as he becomes more engaged in his life and navigates new relationships and situations. So, when Charlie’s aptitude peaks and then declines, you grow viscerally full of dread as the language he “uses” becomes less nuanced and more broken. Algernon is a mouse that undergoes the same surgery, a detail that makes you think about what it means to be human.
The book is notable not just because of the story but because of how the story is told.
9 authors picked Flowers For Algernon as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.
Charlie Gordon, a retarded adult, undergoes a brain operation which dramatically increases his intelligence.
Charlie becomes a genius. But can he cope emotionally? Can he develop relationships?
And how do the psychiatrists and psychologists view Charlie-as a man or as the subject of an experiment like the mouse Algernon?