The Perks of Being a Wallflower

This coming-of-age novel is written as a series of anonymous letters that fifteen-year-old high school Freshman Charlie writes to someone he has never meet but thinks will understand him. He addresses the letters as only as ‘Dear Friend’. The 53 letters span a period from August 1991 to August 1992.

When the novel opens Charlie is dealing with the suicide of his middle school friend Michael the year before and the death of his favourite aunt Helen, during his early childhood. Charlie befriends Patrick, an openly gay teen from his shop class, and his step sister Sam. Both are older, outsiders – but they are the cool kind of outsiders. They introduce Charlie to parties, drugs and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The novel tackles some tough issues through Charlie’s eyes including suicide, domestic violence, sexual abuse, rape, teen pregnancy, abortion, drug use, homosexuality, death of a family member, mental health.

Stephen Chbosky also wrote and directed the feature film adaptation that was released in 2012 and starred Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller.

I really like this book. My friend told us we should read it and after a few days, a lot of our friends started to read it too. It was something we all talked bout when we all finished reading it.

I love this book. Loved Charlie. Such a likeable character that I found I had a great connection to. It was a simple read. Teenagers trying to survive the pressures of school, relationships, love, hormones and the concept of entering adulthood. Really captures the enssence of kidulthood. I look forward to reading it again someday.

Reader reviewed by bono

This book was good but if you had to chose between this and another book i think you might have to pick the other unless that other book is a piece of poop. This book follows a guy his name in the book is "Charlie."Hes a very confused kid that goes through alot in his first year of high school. He drinks he Smokes and is having encounters with women and his friend patrick, who yes is a guy. This book captures alot of what people feel during there first year in high school. Curious as can be he does alot of things we usually don't do but can only dream of doing. This book is a wrap of emotions and events that blow you away and the ending is a shocker! I would totally recommened this to any one...... if you have time.

Reader reviewed by Ariana

Perks of Being a Wallflower is a story about the harsh truth of injustice and the problems some high school students face every waking moment of their life.  I recommend anyone of mature age to read this book.  It is very thought provoking, and in some cases it could be life changing.  It tells of the ups and downs of a 15-year-old boys life and all the struggles he wrestles with in his process of discovering who he really is.  It is an easy read and written in the form of diary entries from Charlie, the main character.  It truly brings you inside of his thoughts and emotions, which makes the book almost impossible to put down because it is a very powerful read.

In its simplistically written form, this story has both the surprisingly complex plot and deep emotions of very well-written book.  I applaud Stephen Chbosky for his ability to create a story that makes you laugh, cry, and think about what really matters in life within the few pages he has put together.  This is a story that gives the reader a different look at things, or in some cases, a connection with the main character.  I truly recommend this book to all mature readers.  It is a great story.

Reader reviewed by melissa

This is a wonderful coming of age book. to sum up the book, in the beginning this boy Charlie writes letters to this person. they have know idea who he is but he seems to know them. it was sort of creepy. you follow his life and experience what he thinks and feels. it interesting to see how so much can go on in a day and how people don't notice any of it because there so consumed in their own lives. charlie seemed a bit mysterious and awkward which is what every teen is growing up. i learned alot about myself from reading this book.

Reader reviewed by MssJos

This book has been on my "to read" list for over a year now. I'm not exactly sure how this book ended up on my list. I just kind of kept hearing about it so I guess I added it somewhere along the way. Normally, I don't enjoy books that consist only of letters written by the characters, journal entries, or things like that but this one is an exception to that rule. Actually, it's an exception to a lot of rules.

Charlie spends his entire freshmen year of high school writing letters to someone who's name he does not reveal to us. In these letters, Charlie describes his first experiences in high school--the loss of his friend to suicide, the eccentric new friends he makes, abusing alcohol, first drug use, and much, much more. Told by anyone else, this story wouldn't be quite as effective; but told from Charlie's intelligent, sensitive, and completely unassuming point of view, readers can feel his excitement, fear, and infinte-ness. (Yes, I realize this is not actually a word...just read the book).

Through his one-sided letters (and therapy), Charlie recalls some things about his past that help him figure out why he is the way he is. Devastating, heartbreaking, and intoxicating, Charlie's letters are simultaneously detailed and vague-keeping readers hanging on until the very end.

This books is hard to explain, and nearly impossible to critically review. Picture "That 70's Show" if Eric was deeply, emotionally disturbed and Hyde was gay. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of the most unique and intriguing YA novels I have read. It will definitely make you look at the quiet kids in class differently.

This isn't a book I would overtly recommend to students, but I do think young adults could benefit from it. I hope that when I become a teacher, I can be like Bill, the English teacher in the book who is always there for Charlie, and sees something special in him and let's him know it. Because sometimes you just need someone to say it out loud. Though Charlie is only sixteen, some of his insights are so advanced and enlightened, readers of all ages can appreciate them.

"I think if I ever have kids, and they are upset, I won't tell them that people
are starving in China or anything like that because it wouldn't change the fact
that they were upset. And even if someone else has it much worse, that doesn't
really change the fact that you have what you have. Good and Bad...Because it's okay to feel things. And be who you are about them." (p.212)

Charlie shows readers that life can be painful, beautiful, and terrifying all at once.

Reader reviewed by Taylor

Drugs.. Death.. && The Rocky Horror Picture Show.. These three interesting elements are the root for The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

The story follows a boy, through his freshmen year of highschool. With the typical older jock brother, and the All-American sister, at first you think this book is going to be like every other teenage book. But the unique writing style of the author keeps you from putting the book down.

We don't know who the boy is, where he is from, or even the real name of anyone in his life, other then mom and dad. But thats okay, you don't really need to know.

You would think, when he falls for Sam, the beautiful senior girl, it is turning back into your typical teenage book, but again, it isn't, which you learn rather quickly.

And then there is the best friend, that is interested in guys, and is having an affair with the highschool quarterback.

There's all kinds of quirks that keep you interested in this book, but the lessons you read about in here, can really affect your own life. I enjoyed reading this book, it made me cry, smile, laugh out loud, and sometimes both at the same time.

Reader reviewed by juli

i liked this book alot. it gave you a sense that maybe your not as messed up as you think you are. and that a lot of people think like you. i must admit that this book was a bit depressing well it was really depressing. It had alot of good meaning to it and you can relate to the main character really well. he puts his thoughts into words when we couldn't. it's good for anyone in high school or college. you'll understand where he's coming from. it's a good sad a way to find out your not alone.

Reader reviewed by Jessica

As I read this novel I couldn't seem to put it down. It intrigued me how Charlie could be so different and not tell his opinions but rather follow what everyone else did and said. He also always told the truth and although he held some of his feelings back at times he had honesty and thats something most teenagers don't have these days. Overall I enjoyed reading the book and seeing it from a guys perspective. I recommend it to teenagers!

Throughout the novel charlie had a lot of good things to say that were simple but applied to most teenagers lives. My favorite quote was when he said "So I guess we are who we are for a lot of reasons, and maybe we'll never know them. But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them." This shows Charlies perspective on life and how he lives it. To me it shows that it doesnt matter where you come from or who you are, you can still overcome your hardships and make something of your life.