Flowers for Algernon facts for kids

Flowers for Algernon is a famous science fiction book written by Daniel Keyes. It was first a short story in 1959, then a full novel in 1966. The story explores what happens when a person's intelligence changes dramatically.

The main character is a kind man named Charlie Gordon. At the start of the story, Charlie has a very low IQ (a way to measure intelligence). He works a simple job and attends a special class to learn.

Charlie gets a chance to be part of a new experiment. This experiment aims to make him much smarter. It works, and Charlie's IQ triples! He quickly learns to read, understand complex ideas, and see the world in a whole new way.

The Story of Charlie Gordon

Charlie's journey begins as he attends a class for adults with learning difficulties. His teacher, Miss Kinnian, sees his strong desire to learn. This desire makes him a perfect candidate for a new scientific experiment.

The Experiment

The experiment involves a special surgery and treatments designed to boost intelligence. Charlie is not the first to undergo this procedure. A mouse named Algernon also had the same experiment done on him. Algernon becomes very smart, too, and can solve complex mazes.

Charlie's New Intelligence

After the experiment, Charlie's mind develops at an amazing speed. He quickly becomes a genius, far smarter than anyone he knows. He learns many new things and starts to understand the world in a way he never could before.

However, this new intelligence brings unexpected challenges. Charlie realizes that the people he thought were his friends were actually making fun of him. He also finds it hard to connect with others who are not as smart as he is now.

The Meaning of Intelligence

As Charlie's intelligence grows, he also starts to feel lonely and unhappy. He realizes that being smart doesn't automatically make you happy or well-liked. The story makes us think about whether it's more important to be a good person or a smart person.

The title of the book, Flowers for Algernon, comes from the mouse, Algernon. Algernon's journey with the experiment mirrors Charlie's own.

Why This Book Is Important

Flowers for Algernon is a very popular book. Many schools include it on their reading lists for students. It makes readers think about important ideas like intelligence, kindness, and what it means to be human.

Images for kids

• 

  Mona Freeman (Alice) and Cliff Robertson (Charlie Gordon) in "The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon", a 1961 presentation of The United States Steel Hour. Robertson reprised his role in the film Charly.

See also

In Spanish: Flores para Algernon para niños