"Now I understand one of the important reasons for going to college and getting an education is to learn that the things you've believed in all your life aren't true, and that nothing is what it appears to be."

A mentally disabled man undergoes an experiment to increase his IQ like that of Algernon, a lab mouse. It is proven successful when Charlie's intelligence surpasses the doctors around him. The experiment is a breakthrough until Algernon begins to deteriorate. Will the same happen to Charlie?

The character development of Charlie was extraordinary. He went from a sweet, caring guy that didn't know any better due to his disability to a highly intelligent, yet arrogant man whom people grew to hate. I liked the fact that the story was told through Charlie's journal entries so you could see his progression and self-awareness increase, starting with his grammar and spelling to his emotional growth. 

I wasn't expecting the story to be sad, but it definitely became emotional when Charlie realized he didn't know how to handle his own emotions, when he became aware of what people truly thought of him, tried to form meaningful relationships, and ultimately his slow regression.

My only problem with the book was that I felt like Charlie's progression accelerated very quickly, leaving quite a bit of filler in the middle to expand on the story. However, it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment and the brilliance of it. I highly recommend this one if you're looking for something different!