The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

This book has been on my "to be read" list for at least 10 years. I don't even remember the first time I heard about it... but it was long before the movie came out.
So the story in a nutshell... Charlie is a HS freshman, small for his age and had been held back a year. Charlie, like a lot of teens is overwhelmed by high school and needs an outlet for all the stuff he is feeling -writing letters to a stranger. We get the whole story through the letters he writes to someone he thought would understand because he heard a story about how the stranger could have taken advantage of someone at a party but didn't.
 Charlie is an internal and emotional person. He is befriended by Patrick and Sam (brother and sister) who introduce Charlie to all kinds of stuff. Plus there is an English teacher giving Charlie all kinds of classic coming of age books to read: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye and a bunch of other really great books...
I really loved this book, It has a gritty realism. It's published by Mtv books, so you can imagine some of the stuff that happens: adventures, music, drugs, Rocky Horror and sex.
Would I read it again? oh, yeah
Who would I give it to? Anyone between 13 and up who knows what life can be like as a teenager.
Where did I get it? the YA section of my local library. You can also find one there...
srsl, it is an award winner and adapted for film... you could probably find a copy at your local Goodwill or at a Library Friends sale near you if you wanted a copy to keep.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Ever since it came out, I had friends (especially other librarians) tell me how much they like this book.  I really wanted to read it and I really wanted to like it.  I had to start the book three different times,  I tried it as an ebook twice then I picked up the hardback at my local library.
I like the idea of the story... I just had a hard time getting into it at first.  When I finally made myself read and give it some time, I got really into it.  The Night Circus is an excellent story.
This is the story of a circus-not like any circus you have ever been to. Sure it has all the usual stuff trapeze artists and cat tamers but there are also living statues, a automated paper animals and an ice garden.  It is like a exhibition of dreams and wonders.
It's also about a girl who has special powers, her father binds her to a challenge, and a boy, an orphan who is chosen to be the challenger.
Why did I have problems with it at first? It jumps around I had to check the beginning of the chapters to find out when I was.  Plus it was a little slow to start with the back story and stuff.
Who would I give it to?older teens and adults who gravitate to fantastical stuff-not fantasy and not just magic. Why not younger teens? If they are interested there isn't any reason I wouldn't let them read it, no language, just an allusion to some sex, no real gore or frightening stuff.  I just wouldn't suggest it because I had trouble with the beginning.
What would I do to make it better? release it as a full cast audio book.  I think this is an interesting and enthralling story and that it should be listened to instead of read.