Characters
The main character of the book who is a freshman in high school and the narrator of the book.
Charlie
This place symbolizes change and moving from dark times to better times.
The tunnel
Charlie does this which leads to him meeting Sam and Patrick
Goes to a football game
DAILY DOUBLE
At the end of the novel, Charlie discovers this trauma from his childhood.
Abuse from Aunt Helen
The Big Boy
The main character's love interest who is a senior in high school.
Sam
DAILY DOUBLE
Charlie giving these as gifts represents his friends are his favorite people in the world.
His books (from Bill)
Brad does this to Patrick, causing Charlie to get involved in a fight with him
Refuses to talk to Patrick and then calls him a slur
Charlie's sister faces this trauma in the first half of the book.
Pregnant/abortion
The name of Micahel's ex-girlfriend that was also a friend of Charlie's.
Susan
DAILY DOUBLE
One of the main character's best friends who also goes by the name "Nothing."
Patrick
These gifts are a symbol for Charlie's friends' belief that he has a bright future and they believe in him.
The suit and typewriter
After Charlie kisses Sam in the Truth or Dare? game, Patrick tells Charlie to do this.
Stay away from the friend group for a while
This trauma causes Patrick to begin drinking and using substances.
Not being able to see Brad/breaking up
This is the type of car that Patrick has
A trusted adult who believes that the main character is special, intelligent, and gifted.
Bill (Charlie's English teacher)
There are many scenes of car crashes, reckless driving, and driving in general in the book. Driving is a symbol for...
Decision-making, the journey of life
DAILY DOUBLE
Sam tells Charlie he needs to be _______ to be a good friend.
Honest, share his feelings, stand up for himself
Sam reveals to Charlie that this is how she got her first kiss.
Charlie listens to this song over and over on a mixtape from his sister's boyfriend.
"Asleep"
Aunt Helen
This play is a symbol for the characters' being their true selves and feeling safe to express themselves.
This event leads to Charlie writing letters to someone he doesn't know.
He overhears someone talking about this person as a good listener and someone who understands
Charlie's mom faced this trauma as a child.
Her father hit her
The first book Bill gave Charlie to read.
To Kill a Mockingbird