Flowers for Algernon

I was able to identify with characters and events in the story so it made it much easier to read

Reader reviewed by Ayrien Johnson

                                                    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.

Reader reviewed by Kelsey

This is a very heararming book. It really feels you up with joy to see someone work so hard and succeed so much. It reallly shows that we're not so different after all. It's rally inspiring to see someone with such problems work so hard and try to become more accepted by everyone and become more like everyone else. In some ways though it breaks your heart as you follow the story through his ups and his downs. It is a great read that is 100% recommended for anyone who loves a good book.

Reader reviewed by Nic

Mentally handicapped Charlie is chosen to undergo an experimental brain surgery to raise his IQ. After the surgery, Charlie is asked to keep a daily diary of his thoughts and experiences. The surgery seems to be a success, as Charlie's IQ reaches genius levels; but he is still emotionally immature and inexperienced.


This is a good book for adults and older teens, but not really suitable for children or very young teens due to some sexual themes and such.

Reader reviewed by linda

I really loved this book because of how beautiful and touching it was but I also hated it because it made me cry so much when I read it. It's one of those books that you love but you swear to yourself that you will never read it again. Anyways, this book is based on science, intelligence, and human emotions. Charlie is a mentally challenged man who is extremely optimistic and happy, but even he realizes that an IQ of 68 won't get him very far so he decides to undergo a radical operation to enhance his intelligence. It works and Charlie is happy for a while but as his IQ grows so too does his loss of connections to average people and even geniuses can't catch up to him. As he watches Algernon, his pet mouse and also a recipient of the operation, die; he realizes that he was a lot happier and better off before the operation.

Reader reviewed by Kelly

This book is challenging to read at times, because the main character, Charlie, is mentally disabled and the book is written in his point of view. The misspelled words can be challenging to decipher, and reading can be frustrating, but the book is worth it. Charlie undergoes a surgery only done on a mouse, Algernon, and his IQ starts to get higher and higher. Charlie begins to realize that people used to make fun of him and as he gets smarter, he realizes he is just as alone as when he was dumb. Algernon begins to deteriorate, and as this happens, your heart breaks for Charlie.

Reader reviewed by Yuma Kuwata

Flower for Algernon is a book about an average boy, who lives in an average town, but with a not so average life. Charlie Gordon is a person who was born with a low intelligence compared to others. One day scientists from college did an advanced surgery on him to increase his I.Q. Charlie will receive the power of knowledge but in a terrible cost.
This book is must read book over the summer. Its unique writing style will grab and hold you till you finish the book. You cant read this book with out crying and sobbing. You will never read a book like this in your life.

Reader reviewed by Ray

This is a touching story for families that have a mentally deprived child. This story talks about a mentally challenged man who gets a chance to have his IQ rise to exponential levels... I must caution readers that if you cry easily, bring out tissues because this story will make you weep for a long time.

Reader reviewed by Diana

Flowers for Algernon is a touching, and tear wrenching story about a mentally handicaped man named Charley. Charley who has a very low IQ is being used as a test subject for a new drug that is supposed to raise your IQ greatly in a matter of weeks. As this drug begins to work Charley begins making changes in his life and really improving himself. But soon the scientest find out that this drugs effects are not permenant. Charleys IQ begins to drop until it is lower then it was to begin with and he becomes weak and can not go on.

This is a really sad and moving novel that makes you feel everything Charley is going through. Everyone should defently go out and read it today.

Reader reviewed by lookwhaticando

I read an expert of this book in reading class in my reading book. The book was unique because it was about a guy named Charly. Charly was mentally retard, the mild kind. Some scientist did an expeirment on him to try to make him smart. They gave Charly a jounal to keep track of his thoughts. In the beginning you see how dumb Charly is because of how he spells and how gullible he is, and thought the story, you slowly see him getting smarter. I loved that about the story, and also how charming and sweet Charly is. Its a really good book, and there is also a movie about it and that is awesome too!

Reader reviewed by Liz

I had to read this for english last year and i found it interesting. We watched the film aswel...its a really moving story. Don't be put off by the name or maybe the first few chapters, once it gets going this book is good.

Reader reviewed by Grace

I had to read this book for school and I really liked it, but I thought it was really sad. It really makes you think about how science affects people, in good ways and in bad ways. I really wish that both the guy and the mouse could have kept their smarts. Also, I was really mad at the mean people who made fun of them when they were dumb. Very real, but not cool at all. If you are one of those people, think before you speak.

Reader reviewed by John

This story is an amazing fictional account of a mentally challenged man and how medical science changed his life forever. Given a chance to be normal, he volounteers for a revolutionary intelligence hormone treatment in hopes of becoming normal.


In my opinion this book was a very well written, well versed and very meaningful/symbolic lengthened version of the original Flowers for Algernon published in the 1950's.

I recommend this book for everyone above the age of 10. Especially people who have delt with someone mentally challenged or if you've read the original and want to read a more in depth version.