"Study as if you were to live forever, live as if you were to die tomorrow." (Maria Mitchell)

(For some reason my comment wouldn't show up so I posted it here....)

Ryan,

I am intrigued by the idea that you had to write back to Charlie from the perspective of the "dear reader."
First of all, I really like the fact that you discourage Charlie from using LSD, especially when his school friends aren't exactly positive role models in that aspect. Also, your entry seems very personal and attentive to what is going on in Charlie's life, which is exactly what he needed. I also like that fact that you give Charlie advice about what to do such as talking to his brother. Maybe it never occured to him, or maybe he needed to hear it from someone else that it would be okay.

I also agree that there may be something more to Charlie and Aunt Helen. Charlie does seem to drift in and out of his writing in a way that readers may sense that there is something deeper involved with what happened to Aunt Helen, and how Charlie feels about it. The issue with Aunt Helen is so apparent in his life that there must be more to the story than he lets on in his letters.

Also, it is great that you wrote back to Charlie in a perspective of someone who is around the same age as Charlie. Even though Charlie had friends, Charlie needed more of a mentor such as the character you created.

Moreover, it is interesting that you elude to the notion of "participating in life." Charlie seems to sit back a lot of times and observe others more than he participates. Great connection to the text.