Review Detail

                                                    Flowers for Algernon

                                                 Written By: Daniel Keyes

     Charlie Gordon is a 32 year old man who is mentally retarded. Charlie goes to Beekmin College Center for Retarded Adults. He has been recommended by his teacher, Mrs. Kinnian, for a surgery that supposedly will make him smart. Before the surgery, Dr. Strauss told Charlie the surgery might not work and leave him worse off than he is now. Charlie, not knowing any better, said,I dint care because I aint afraid of nothing. Im very strong and I always do good and besides I got my lucky rabbits foot and I never break a mirror in my life (page 11). After the surgery Charlie becomes smart. In fact he becomes smarter than Professor Nemur and Dr. Strauss. Once he realizes this, he takes matters into his own hands. Thats when unbelievable things begin to happen.

     I think that this book has a lot of different moods in it. One of the moods I liked was the very first one. Charlie seemed confused. I in particularly found it funny. Another thing about the book is it has two different points of views. One of the point of views explains how a mentally challenged man sees the world. One example I feel strongly supports this is when Charlie states &because when I mess u they laff at me and I laff with them because they really like me and were good friends (page 23). Then the other point of view is a man looking back at a mentally challenged man. At one point in the book Charlie is at a restaurant where a mental boy working there drops a stack of plates. Everyone there laughs and Charlie stands up and yells Dont laugh he doesnt know he cant understand (page 199).

      I would have to recommend this book to young adults. Also if you like scientific fiction you may like this book. Flowers for Algernon was the best book I have ever read.