As this is an old favorite of mine, I've read it a few times but not for several years, so it was great to go back to it. Immediately, I got sucked back into the voice and the world that Chbosky has created. I still feel that Charlie is one of the most emotionally complex characters I've read, and his story is heartbreaking but also quietly uplifting. This book brings me back to feelings of loneliness and grief in high school and feeling that everything is just too much. I think it's important to remember those times, to remember how big your feelings are as a teenager, and not to be ashamed of or suppress those memories. Perks taught me to live in the moment and to seek out the people who will be there for you when you need them. I'm so glad I re-read this one again.