Stephen Chbosky

This author has only recently just come on my radar, but has made pretty impressive progress to immediatley become one of the favorite authors. His novel, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," is by far one of the best I have ever read. Considered to be a modern day "Catcher in the Rye," the story follows Charlie, a wallfower, as he goes through high school, taking in all of his experiences and giving an uncommon perspective on life. It was published in 1999 and will be made into a movie in the next coming years (with Emma Watson starring in a lead role).
Chbosky really knows how to tap in to true teenage experience and emotion. His novels are no where near the generic teen novel, they reach an audience on a much deeper level. I'm so excited to read more of his novels and to see "Perks" on the silver screen.