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THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

by Stephen Chbosky ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 4, 1999

Aspiring filmmaker/first-novelist Chbosky adds an upbeat ending to a tale of teenaged angst—the right combination of realism and uplift to allow it on high school reading lists, though some might object to the sexuality, drinking, and dope-smoking. More sophisticated readers might object to the rip-off of Salinger, though Chbosky pays homage by having his protagonist read Catcher in the Rye. Like Holden, Charlie oozes sincerity, rails against celebrity phoniness, and feels an extraliterary bond with his favorite writers (Harper Lee, Fitzgerald, Kerouac, Ayn Rand, etc.). But Charlie’s no rich kid: the third child in a middle-class family, he attends public school in western Pennsylvania, has an older brother who plays football at Penn State, and an older sister who worries about boys a lot. An epistolary novel addressed to an anonymous “friend,” Charlie’s letters cover his first year in high school, a time haunted by the recent suicide of his best friend. Always quick to shed tears, Charlie also feels guilty about the death of his Aunt Helen, a troubled woman who lived with Charlie’s family at the time of her fatal car wreck. Though he begins as a friendless observer, Charlie is soon pals with seniors Patrick and Sam (for Samantha), stepsiblings who include Charlie in their circle, where he smokes pot for the first time, drops acid, and falls madly in love with the inaccessible Sam. His first relationship ends miserably because Charlie remains compulsively honest, though he proves a loyal friend (to Patrick when he’s gay-bashed) and brother (when his sister needs an abortion). Depressed when all his friends prepare for college, Charlie has a catatonic breakdown, which resolves itself neatly and reveals a long-repressed truth about Aunt Helen. A plain-written narrative suggesting that passivity, and thinking too much, lead to confusion and anxiety. Perhaps the folks at (co-publisher) MTV see the synergy here with Daria or any number of videos by the sensitive singer-songwriters they feature.

Pub Date: Feb. 4, 1999

ISBN: 0-671-02734-4

Page Count: 256

Publisher: MTV Books/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1999

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION

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by Stephen Chbosky

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SEEN & HEARD

by Walter Dean Myers ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 31, 1999

The format of this taut and moving drama forcefully regulates the pacing; breathless, edge-of-the-seat courtroom scenes...

In a riveting novel from Myers (At Her Majesty’s Request, 1999, etc.), a teenager who dreams of being a filmmaker writes the story of his trial for felony murder in the form of a movie script, with journal entries after each day’s action.

Steve is accused of being an accomplice in the robbery and murder of a drug store owner. As he goes through his trial, returning each night to a prison where most nights he can hear other inmates being beaten and raped, he reviews the events leading to this point in his life. Although Steve is eventually acquitted, Myers leaves it up to readers to decide for themselves on his protagonist’s guilt or innocence.

Pub Date: May 31, 1999

ISBN: 0-06-028077-8

Page Count: 280

Publisher: HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1999

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT MYSTERY & THRILLER | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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by Walter Dean Myers ; illustrated by Floyd Cooper

by Walter Dean Myers

by Walter Dean Myers ; adapted by Guy A. Sims ; illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile

THE HIGHEST TIDE

by Jim Lynch ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 8, 2005

A celebratory song of the sea.

A shrimpy 13-year-old with a super-sized passion for marine life comes of age during a summer of discovery on the tidal flats of Puget Sound.

Miles O’Malley—Squid Boy to his friends—doesn’t mind being short. It’s other things that keep him awake at night, like his parents’ talk of divorce and his increasingly lustful thoughts about the girl next door. Mostly, though, it’s the ocean’s siren call that steals his sleep. During one of his moonlit kayak excursions, Miles comes across the rarest sighting ever documented in the northern Pacific: the last gasp of a Giant Squid. Scientists are stunned. The media descend. As Miles continues to stumble across other oddball findings, including two invasive species that threaten the eco-balance of Puget Sound, a nearby new-age cult’s interest in Miles prompts a headline in USA Today : Kid Messiah? Soon tourists are flocking to the tidal flats, crushing crustaceans underfoot and painting their bodies with black mud. Dodging disingenuous journalists, deluded disciples and the death-throes of his parents’ marriage, Miles tries to recapture some semblance of normality. He reads up on the G-spot and the Kama Sutra to keep pace with his pals’ bull sessions about sex (hilariously contributing “advanced” details that gross the other boys out). But Miles’s aquatic observations cannot be undone, and as summer draws to a close, inhabitants of Puget Sound prepare for a national blitzkrieg of media and scientific attention and the highest tide in 40 years, all of which threatens everything Miles holds dear. On land, the rickety plot could have used some shoring up. Miles is just too resourceful for the reader to believe his happiness—or that of those he loves—is ever at stake. But when Miles is on the water, Lynch’s first novel becomes a stunning light show, both literal, during phosphorescent plankton blooms, and metaphorical, in the poetic fireworks Lynch’s prose sets off as he describes his clearly beloved Puget Sound.

Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2005

ISBN: 1-58234-605-4

Page Count: 272

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2005

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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by Jim Lynch

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The perks of being a wallflower.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 11 Reviews
• Kids Say 142 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Controversial coming-of-age classic with sex, drugs, abuse.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this coming-of-age classic features a lot of mature material including an abortion, repressed memories of sexual abuse, and men having sex with one another (sometimes anonymously). Characters, including the teen narrator, drink, smoke, and use drugs. Even so, it has become a classic of sorts…

Why Age 16+?

Kids, including the narrator, smoke and drink. A character also uses Mini Thins

Charlie overhears his crush having sex with her boyfriend, walks in on his siste

Mature language, including the f-word and a hate word for gay people.

Charlie's sister is hit by her boyfriend but continues to secretly date him. Som

Any Positive Content?

Charlie comes of age in this book and learns to not only reach out to others, bu

Charlie may drink and smoke, but he is honest about his feelings, even when he f

Teens may want to read some of the books Charlie reads during his 10th grade yea

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Kids, including the narrator, smoke and drink. A character also uses Mini Thins to stay awake. Charlie also smokes marijuana and uses LSD.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Charlie overhears his crush having sex with her boyfriend, walks in on his sister naked with her boyfriend, and learns a friend is having a secret homosexual romance with a popular boy. He goes with his sister to have an abortion and also with his gay friend to pick up on guys for anonymous sex. He lets that same friend kiss him. Some other making out and descriptions of people having sex. Toward the end, in a pretty descriptive scene, Charlie stops a girl from touching him when he remembers being abused.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

Charlie's sister is hit by her boyfriend but continues to secretly date him. Some fistfights. Charlie ultimately remembers being sexually molested as a small child. He also remembers his dad hitting him and recounts a history of physical abuse in his greater family. Charlie's friend kills himself and his aunt dies in car crash.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Charlie comes of age in this book and learns to not only reach out to others, but also to be present in his own life.

Positive Role Models

Charlie may drink and smoke, but he is honest about his feelings, even when he feels ashamed of them. He has a strong friendship with both Sam and Patrick, and is there for them when they fall apart. Sam, in particular, helps him, encouraging Charlie to live his life for himself. He also has a supportive teacher.

Educational Value

Teens may want to read some of the books Charlie reads during his 10th grade year, including The Catcher in the Rye , To Kill a Mockingbird and A Separate Peace . Why have these coming-of-age books become classics? Why did the author choose to include these books?

Parents need to know that this coming-of-age classic features a lot of mature material including an abortion, repressed memories of sexual abuse, and men having sex with one another (sometimes anonymously). Characters, including the teen narrator, drink, smoke, and use drugs. Even so, it has become a classic of sorts because of its tender coming-of-age story that's easy to compare to The Catcher in the Rye . Parents who are concerned about the mature material may want to consider reading it along with their kids.

Where to Read

Parent and kid reviews.

• Parents say (11)
• Kids say (142)

Based on 11 parent reviews

SUCH A GOOD BOOK!!!

It's not a bad book, what's the story.

After his friend commits suicide, smart misfit Charlie is trying to learn to "participate" in life. He befriends a group of interesting older kids who introduce him to partying, but also respect his sensitivity. In letters that Charlie writes to an anonymous stranger, he talks about his family, his friends, and his complicated, often overwhelming, feelings about growing up. Eventually, his longtime crush tells him that he "can't just sit there and put everybody's life ahead of yours and think that counts as love," and he slowly learns to be present in his life.

Is It Any Good?

Teens who love The Catcher in the Rye will find this to be an excellent sequel of sorts. Charlie shares Holden's overwhelming sensitivity -- and struggles with psychological issues -- and readers will find themselves quickly feeling sorry for the protagonist and worrying about him throughout his transformative journey. There's lots of mature content here, from sexual material to Charlie's repressed memories of being abused; parents may want to read along with their teens so they can help them with any questions. Alternately, Simon & Schuster has a reading guide that can help them think through some of the plot points and deeper issues.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about controversial books. The Perks of Being a Wallflower was the 10th most challenged book on the American Library Association's list of the 100 most banned or challenged books of 2000-2009. What makes it so controversial? Who should be able to make the decision about what you read or what's in your school or public library?

Teens and parents may want to compare and contrast this book with some of the other coming-of-age classics Charlie reads during his 10th grade year, including The Catcher in the Rye , To Kill a Mockingbird and A Separate Peace . Why did the author choose to include these books?

Book Details

• Author : Stephen Chbosky
• Genre : Coming of Age
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : MTV
• Publication date : February 1, 1999
• Number of pages : 224
• Last updated : December 13, 2018

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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What to read next.

The Catcher in the Rye

Zen and the Art of Faking It

Looking for Alaska

After the Moment

Frequently challenged and banned books for kids and teens.

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Publisher: Simon & Schuster | Genre: Young Adult Romance, Epistolary

Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Author:  Stephen Chbosky

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: Young Adult Romance, Epistolary

First Publication: 1999

Language:  English

Major Characters: Charlie, Mr. Anderson, Brad, Patrick, Sam

Setting Place: Pittsburgh suburbs

Theme: Trauma, Abuse, and Mental Health, Relationships and Intimacy, Adolescence and Transformation

Narrator: First person through Charlie’s perspective

Book Summary: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is an epistolary novel , where the narrator is a young introvert boy called Charlie. The story revolves around series of letters written by Charlie to an anonymous person mentioning his experiences. Though shy and sensitive in nature, Charlie is an intelligent boy with unconventional thinking capabilities. His first letters starts with Charlie mentioning about suicide of his Middle School’s friend and death of his favourite aunt Helen and how these tragic incidents have took toll in his life.

Charlie befriends two seniors Patrick and Sam and ends up indulging in alcohol and other drugs with Sam. In the meantime, Charlie also learns about his sister having relationship with an abusive guy and eventually getting pregnant. The flashback of his aunt dying in car crash stops haunting Charlie, as he starts enjoying company of his friends and Sam. While playing Truth and Dare, he is asked to kiss the prettiest girl in the room; he kisses Sam for which he faces neglect from the group.

“And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.”

Flashback returns. Will Charlie be ever able to get control over his life? Will he be able to get his friends back? What turns did Charlie’s life take and how he battled to overcome it? A story filled with drama and lots of emotions, including, friendship, first love and sexuality- The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Major Characters: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Charlie:  The fifteen-year-old protagonist of The Perks of Being a Wallflower book. The story of The Perks of Being a Wallflower is told entirely from Charlie’s point of view. The book is told by a series of letters written by Charlie to an anonymous “friend”. Charlie is a shy, reserved, and intelligent high school freshman who has seen a great deal of stress in his youth. Charlie emerges from his shell through the relationships he forms throughout the school year, but it isn’t until the very end of the book that he discovers the repressed memories of sexual abuse at the heart of all the trauma he has been processing the entire time.

Patrick:  Sam’s stepbrother and one of Charlie’s closest friends in high school. He has an open friendship with Brad, the football team’s quarterback. Patrick accepts Charlie and all of his quirks and gives him the confidence to be himself.

Sam: Patrick’s stepsister and one of Charlie’s closest friends in high school. Throughout the novel, Charlie has a massive crush on Sam. Sam was sexually assaulted as a child, which links her to Charlie, but neither knows it until the very end of the book.

Book Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

In August of 1991 fifteen-year-old Charlie begins writing letters about his life to a stranger who he thinks will listen and understand. He doesn’t want this person to know who he is, so he has changed all the names of the people in his life. Charlie has a tendency to over think things, and prefers to look on from the side-lines than to participate. As he starts high school, he is still trying to get over the recent suicide of his best friend Michael. Charlie soon befriends Patrick and Sam and is introduced to their friends. Their world is one full of sex, drugs, love, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, mixed tapes, and moments that make you feel infinite.

Charlie is easily the most honest and insightful teenage narrator I can think of. He thinks about and questions everything, and looks at things in a unique way. He is very naïve and innocent as the novel begins, making his voice distinctive and unlike the average teenager. The writing style of The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky reminds me a bit of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time and  The Catcher in the Rye.

“So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I’m still trying to figure out how that could be.”

Stephen Chbosky was influenced by Holden Caulfield while writing this book, and he pays homage to that by having Charlie read The Catcher in the Rye. Charlie’s English teacher Bill assigns him extra novels to read and write about throughout the school year. Charlie’s favourite book is always the last one he has read, and I liked the discussion of books, movies and music throughout the novel. All those things were a huge part of my teenage years, and I always like to see them mentioned in books.

Charlie’s friends and family felt very realistic to me. Charlie is very flawed and both Bill and Sam point out how he needs to participate and not put others before him. Although there are perks to being a wallflower, Charlie needs to stop watching from the sidelines. The ending of The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky was surprising and gave insight on why Charlie is the way he is.

“It’s strange because sometimes, I read a book, and I think I am the people in the book.”

After I finished reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky the second time, I tried to put my finger on what makes this book special. It wasn’t the great quotes or the characters, but how poignant this book is. What makes me love The Perks of Being a Wallflower is how real the emotions in this book feel. A lot of the things that happened to Charlie have never happened to me, but while reading this book it felt as if they had.

What can I say other than if you did not read this book yet, then you are missing one of the greatest books ever written.

Quotes from The Perks of Being a Wallflower

“We accept the love we think we deserve.”

“Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn’t stop for anybody.”

“There’s nothing like deep breaths after laughing that hard. Nothing in the world like a sore stomach for the right reasons.”

“So, I guess we are who we are for alot of reasons. And maybe we’ll never know most of 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.”

Differences Between The Perks Of Being A Wallflower Movie And Book

The Perks of Becoming a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is a brief, tidy novel told in a one-sided epistolary style, with our protagonist Charlie narrating the story through letters to an anonymous friend. The movie adaptation of The Perks Of Being A Wallflower expands on Charlie’s story, showing him from a different angle while retaining the letter-writing format’s dignity. This means that a lot of the introduction material has to be changed somewhat, but the material that remains hits all of the right notes.

Most of the credit for the film’s tight transition goes to Stephen Chbosky, who wrote the script and then directed it onscreen. Mostly, novelists have no input about how their works are adapted, which is why the movie adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower is so special. Charlie, Patrick, and Sam are Chbosky’s darlings, and rather than passing them over to anyone else, he lets them shine even more on the big screen.

The majority of the inconsistencies between the book and film adaptation of The Perks of Becoming a Wallflower are successful, but this is because the most of the modifications are subtle and not to alter the plot’s general direction. The below are the seven most noticeable differences I found during my screening of The Perks of Being a Wallflower movie.

• Charlie is a bit funnier, a little bolder, and a little less wallowy. We get to see Charlie’s charming way of extrapolating interactions with his friends and we are not trapped in his mind for the duration of the movie. He also alludes to all the strange thoughts running through his mind, but since this isn’t the only part of Charlie we can see, the audience’s emotional state is much more reserved.
• Charlie’s family appears in the film, but they are largely omitted from the storyline for the sake of time and narrative flow. As a result, we see less of his sister’s distress. One of the most harrowing scenes in the novel happens when Charlie’s sister is hit by her boyfriend, and the power dynamics in their relationship shift as a result. The incident is still shown in the film, but it is much less significant to the storyline.
• We get a glimpse at Charlie’s instructor Bill’s classroom complexities. Sure, Charlie mentions Bill’s lessons in the novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but in the movie, we get to see Bill as a more complex character. He always gets to say the epic “We accept the love we think we deserve” line, but he also gets to ask dumb summer reading questions. He’s always Charlie’s coach, but he’s still just a guy hoping to instil some interest in his pupils.
• Patrick lights the screen on fire. In the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower, we know Patrick is outspoken, a bit loud, and has a wonderful rapport with Sam. However, Ezra Miller’s Patrick has great comedic timing and is incredibly funny, particularly in a few new details that appear in the movie, such as the pink shop class instruments. Miller, rather than anybody else, gives life to a character we’ve only ever seen through Charlie’s eyes.
• There are more religious overtones in the movie than in the novel. We don’t know much about Charlie’s extended family, and we never see his racist grandfather, so Chbosky introduces Catholicism to draw out the environment Charlie grew up in. It’s strange, because in the novel, Charlie clearly believes in God, but his parents aren’t religious. The addition of faith offers the atmosphere a somewhat different background, but it also provides Chbosky with a simple way to transition from scene to scene.
• Charlie’s last Christmas gift to Patrick, a suicidal, heartbreaking poem, is cut out. The poem isn’t really relevant to the story. It’s too long to read in its entirety onscreen, but it’s a pivotal point in Charlie’s life and relationship with Sam, Patrick, Mary Elizabeth, Alice, and Bob. The film isn’t worse without the poem Charlie reads, but those who have read the book may find it lacking.

Overall, Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Becoming a Wildflower has a wonderful cast and is a wildly successful movie that captures the ache and grandeur of growing up in the suburbs in the early 1990s seamlessly by retaining all of the crucial moments in Charlie’s timeline and telling us more of our beloved side characters onscreen.

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower Book Review

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, written by Stephen Chbosky, is a poignant novel that anyone who has navigated through adolescence can relate to. After the death of his beloved Aunt and his best friend Michael, the main character Charlie embarks on a journey to find himself while dealing with crippling loneliness and anxiety as he enters into his first year of high school. With the help of some new friends, Charlie discovers how to live in the moment and let go of the past.

The novel is composed of hundreds of letters that Charlie writes to an unknown friend. This writing style allows readers an exclusive look into Charlie’s innermost private thoughts, creating a personal connection with the character. Charlie’s pain tugs on readers’ heartstrings, while his happiness traverses through the pages, bringing great joy to the readers.

Charlie begins ninth grade just after his dear friend Michael commits suicide. With no genuine support system to help Charlie work through his complex and confusing emotions, he feels completely alone. The only person that would understand Charlie is his Aunt Helen, who was his favorite person in the world, but she died in a car crash when he was seven. No emotion can be displayed in his home, as his father and brother have a twisted view of masculinity, believing that a true man must be aggressive and emotionless. With no other options, Charlie decides that his only form of self-expression is writing letters to a “friend”.

As a reserved boy, Charlie has a hard time participating in life. Although he is an isolated wallflower, he is constantly observing the world around him, soaking up information like a sponge. He befriends his advanced English teacher, Bill, who gives Charlie extra reading assignments. Charlie connects with many of the characters in the reading and uses the books as a way to process his experiences. Bill is arguably the most important authority figure in Charlie’s life, as his confidence in Charlie ignites his dream of becoming a writer and gives Charlie validation which he cannot receive anywhere else. He encourages Charlie to actively engage in life and to break down the barrier which keeps him hidden from the world.

While at a football game, Charlie meets two seniors, a boy named Patrick and his sister Sam. Their warm and welcoming personalities comfort Charlie, and they quickly become his best friends. Charlie falls in love with Sam, not just for her beauty, but for her kind personality. Sam and Patrick include Charlie in all of their activities, bringing him to parties and introducing him to their friends. Both of them expose Charlie to the real world, teaching him how to enjoy life and build healthy relationships, as affection is taboo in his family. Listening to Bill’s advice, Charlie begins to participate more, even going to his school’s homecoming dance. On the drive home, Sam stands up in the back of her pickup truck, and as they drive through a tunnel with the music blaring, Charlie says he feels “infinite”. This part of the novel resonated with me, as most people have had a moment where they felt limitless. A moment where all of their troubles dissipated and they genuinely enjoyed life. Above all, Sam and Patrick teach Charlie how to love and respect himself instead of conforming to others so easily.

Although his friendship with Sam and Patrick provides Charlie with newfound happiness, a multitude of factors plague his life with depression. Most of the people that Charlie knows have suffered from abuse. Both of Charlie’s parents were beaten by their fathers, and many of his aunts experienced abusive relationships. Patrick’s boyfriend was also whipped by his father for being gay , and Charlie’s sister was hit by her boyfriend. Along with physical abuse, Charlie has been exposed to many accounts of sexual assault. His Aunt Helen was molested, and he witnessed rape at a party. Furthermore, Charlie blames himself for his aunt’s death, as she got in a car crash while on the way to buy him a birthday present.

All of these factors contribute to Charlie’s deteriorating mental state, and similarly to Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye, Charlie turns to drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol in order to cope. Eventually Charlie hits rock bottom after he digs up a traumatizing event from his past, causing him to question the person that he loved most. At the conclusion of the novel, Charlie decides that he cannot blame anyone for his painful experience, and with the support of his family and friends he moves forward and lives in the present.

This novel has been banned on many schools’ reading lists because of its blunt descriptions of touchy subjects such as rape , drugs, abortion , and offensive language. However, I strongly disagree with this decision. I believe that the themes in the book are even more relevant today than 20 years ago, when it was published in 1999. Chbosky sheds a light on numerous problems in today’s society, such as the stereotype that true men must be strong and emotionless, while women should accept abuse from men as normal. Chbosky challenges this notion through Patrick, an openly gay man who shows that men can be homosexual, and Bill, who is compassionate and sensitive. The novel also brings the issue of teen depression to the surface, which is needed more than ever in today’s world. Through Michael’s suicide, Chbosky highlights the grim reality of mental illness, a truth which many tend to ignore. The need for confronting these issues is presented through Charlie’s discussion with his parents about the disturbing experience he suffered at the hands of the most trusted figure in his life.

Overall, I highly recommend this book, specifically to high schoolers. The only complaint I have about the book is that the ending was too abrupt, and I wish the author continued the story line longer. The most magical aspect of the book is how relatable the characters are. Just like Charlie, countless high schoolers have felt out of place, like they were not actually living, but merely observing. Everyone has felt that fear of entering high school, not knowing if they would have friends to eat with at lunch or walk through the halls with. Along with the lows point that readers can identify with, they can also relate to the many highs that Charlie experienced. From something as small as singing with friends in the car, the novel reminds readers to relish the present and let go of the past. As for me, this book taught me to live in the moment and to stop obsessing over every petty issue, as high school goes by fast and you should enjoy the time you can with friends and family. If readers take away anything from this novel, it should be that bad times are not permanent, and as displayed by Charlie, things will always work out.

I truly admire that Charlie never tries to fit in with his peers or change who he is to please others. Charlie is not popular, in fact, his classmates think he is strange. Even though Charlie feels lonely, he consistently sticks to his morals and never acts different to make friends. In today’s society, people are constantly trying to fit into boxes to gain the admiration of others, but Charlie’s unique personality reminds people that in order to find real friends, you must be yourself. Although Charlie is not popular, when he is with Sam, Patrick, and his other friends, he feels complete, and that feeling is so much better than being on the top of the social hierarchy.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower brings readers on a journey through high school, all its lows and highs. It teaches readers about growing up and finding themselves in an unforgiving world. Some parts of the novel will make people ecstatic, others will make people depressed. The book may even make readers cry. But one thing I can guarantee is, this book will make everyone feel infinite.

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Confessions of a Book Geek

Review: the perks of being a wallflower.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky ,  published August 2012 by Simon & Schuster.

Read:  August 2014 Genre: Young Adult/Romance/Contemporary/Issues Source: Purchased – eBook #Pages:  221 Get It Now: Wordery

Goodreads Synopsis:  Charlie is a freshman. And while he’s not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can’t stay on the sidelines forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

I’d seen this book around for ages but just never picked it up, even though generally I’d heard pretty good things about it. I kept putting it off, but luckily for me this was the book  you chose for me to read from my Top Ten Tuesday list of Books That Give Me Bookish Indecisive Syndrome , so as promised, here is my review 🙂 . This story-line surprised me , it wasn’t what I was expecting, but in a good way. Even though the book is very popular, and of course the movie too, I hadn’t had this read spoiled for me, so some parts of it really did leave me speechless . I do wish I had have found this book sooner, as I think teenage me would have really took a lot from it.

I really enjoyed reading a novel in the style of a diary or letters, for me it was nostalgic as it reminded me of many books I read in my teens that followed a similar style. Though I have to say, it does drive me insane that we never find out who Charlie is writing to (or do we? Is there a hint in there I’ve missed?). It maybe isn’t important to the story overall, but I have this feeling that who he chose to write to is pretty important, as he isn’t the sort of character to tell his life-story to just anyone.

I read this book in one sitting. Granted it isn’t a very long book, and the letter-style tends to lend itself to a quick read, but still, reading a book in one sitting is not something I do often. For such a short book, Chbosky touches on so many important issues that do affect a variety of teens and adults, from loss to rape, sexual assault to suicide, drugs to bullying and homosexuality to coming-of-age, Chbosky has taken them all, approached them with honesty and truth and presented them uncensored to the reader in beautiful writing . I can see why this book is so popular with so many, but I have to say, it still  wasn’t  quite what I was expecting. I’m not even sure what that was to be honest, obviously there was/is a lot of hype surrounding this book, so I wonder if that effected my read…

Out of all of the supporting characters I had a particular soft spot for Patrick, which was only compounded when I watched the movie adaptation. Yes, brownie points for me, I put the movie on as soon  as I’d read the book. The adaptation was pretty much perfection, it’s clear to see that Chbosky had creative input in the movie, as it stays so true to the heart of the book’s story-line.

“And in that moment I swear we were infinite.”

Although there were elements of this book that screamed teenage honesty to me, I don’t think I would reread it, and it didn’t quite resonate with me as much as it does for others. It’s definitely a book I would have loved as a mature teen, possibly more than when I read it as an adult, and there are certainly some quotes that will stay with me. It was a real challenge to find the words for this review.

I read and reviewed this book because it was selected for me by my readers as part of my new Have Your Say poll at the end of my Top Ten Tuesday Posts. To vote in my latest poll click here .

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About Rachel

13 responses.

Yeah, this book was tough – good in a lot of ways, but tough. Charlie can sometimes be hard to relate to. I think I enjoyed it more than you did, but I also don’t feel like it’s the type of book I might re-read.

Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

That’s it exactly! I struggled with the review, because I did enjoy it and was suitably shocked by the revelations, but at the same time based on what my rating scale means, it didn’t blow me away or make me want to reread it really. I might pick it up again, but I can’t say it’s a firm favourite. I think I’m confusing myself lol I wouldn’t say “oh my God, you HAVE to read that!” but at the same time I think everyone should at some point in their life, preferably in their late teens…lol R x

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I’m interested to read this, simply because I loved the film so much. Logan Lerman was flawless!

It’s great that Chbosky touches on so many serious issues and really takes the time to explore them, rather than just gliding over them and using them as plot devices for the sake of it. If the film is anything to go by, it seems he really does get right into the nitty gritty details.

I’m glad Patrick is just as awesome in the book 😀 he was my favourite character in the movie!

Hi Allie, thanks for stopping by 🙂 I really liked the fact that Chbosky presents issues uncensored to his reader, they’re not glorified or exaggerated, just told “how it is”. I definitely connected with book Patrick, and loved movie Patrick, he was my favourite too 🙂 R x

I also read this book in one sitting, but not for any positive reasons. ( I really disliked it .)

I think the person he’s writing to is purposefully left open (“Dear Friend “–not even a sex) to place the reader into that role.

Ohh. Must go check out your review. Ahh, I didn’t think of it that way! R x

I’m glad you enjoyed this one, I thought it was a brilliant book. I also loved the movie adaptation, they did a really brilliant job and I loved the casting.

I was so up-in-the-air about how I felt about this one, that it was hard to review it. I did enjoy it a lot, but didn’t gush about it. Tricky one to call! Thanks for commenting 🙂 R x

[…] You can check out my reviews of Ugly Love (5/5) – Life Interrupted (4/5) – The Before Now and After Then (4/5), Tore Divided Love (3/5) and The Perks of Being a Wallflower (3.5/5), […]

[…] 1 you guys picked The Perks of Being A Wallflower, which I’ve read and reviewed. Week 2 the winner was Throne of Glass, which arrived in the post yesterday in my most recent haul. […]

[…] these authors! For those who are interested in how I’m doing with the polls, I have read and reviewed The Perks of Being A Wallflower (winner of the TTT Books That Give Me Bookish-Indecisive Syndrome), […]

[…] back this week! You guys have picked some great books so far – I’ve read and reviewed The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Throne of Glass, because you picked them for me. I still need to get to Cinder, but […]

[…] 9. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky – This is a recent read that I really enjoyed, it was surprising, and I really like the diary-entry style, which reminded me of the Adrian Mole books, a series I loved when I was younger. For coming-of-age stories, mixed with some deeper issues, Perks has the perfect mix. My review of The Perks of Being A Wallflower. […]

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Review: ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ inspired a generation. Its follow-up? No chance

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Quoted in more than a few college application essays, Stephen Chbosky’s 1999 novel “ The Perks of Being a Wallflower ” is a moving and heartfelt portrait of teens suffering the indignities of high school.

The hit film adaptation starred Emma Watson and was produced by John Malkovich. Since then, Chbosky has directed a TV show, “Jericho,” and also the film “Wonder .” Now, after two decades, he’s released a much-awaited second novel.

At the center of the sprawling horror story “Imaginary Friend” is Kate and her son Chris, who is only 7 but already has witnessed his father’s suicide and been forced to move to a small town in Pennsylvania to escape Mom’s difficult boyfriend.

Chris isn’t a believable character. He is inspired to action by a cloud that is shaped like a human but not a man or woman, a “nice man” who tells the boy what to do, and (no joke) a talking white plastic bag. Driven by these laughable creatures, which confuse more than they entertain or stir, the boy enlists fellow 7-year-olds Matt, Mike and Special Ed to build a magical fort, which they locate on a tree that Chbosky describes, impossibly, as a “crooked hand ripping out of the earth’s cheek like a pimple.”

Also: It’s a tree of knowledge, a refuge from evil, and later maybe it’s the cause of evil?

If Chbosky’s debut was a crowd-pleasing account of bullying and love, heartache and being different, “Imaginary Friend” is a convoluted, deeply unappealing Christian-ish allegory that struggles to say something profound about good and evil.

On a basic level of style, the writing stuns with its amateurish flatness. When someone screams? It’s a blood-curdling scream. When evil is on the move? The temperature in the room will drop several degrees. On just one page, you’ll find the cliches “not all wounds leave marks” and “He knew it in his guts.” Women in the story are beautiful, one so beautiful “she might have taken his breath away.” In a critical scene a woman’s Alzheimer’s disease is reversed, and her nurse calls it a “Christmas miracle.” And then on the next line, in italics, Chbosky writes: “Or was it?”

Parsing the final 300 pages of this 700-plus page book, what had been just dull palaver becomes almost camp in its unserious effort to bring about a stirring conclusion.

You could imagine a trim, well-edited version of this novel, with a moving portrait of what it’s like to take a stand against injustice, brutality and greed. It’s not the genre’s fault: Horror can cohere, it can rally around a compelling idea of good, and it can make clear for us a notion of courage or sacrifice. But here, an author who wrote an odd and affecting debut has followed it up with an undisciplined mess. “Imaginary Friend” should have stayed in Chbosky’s head.

Imaginary Friend

Stephen Chbosky

Grand Central Publishing: 720 pages, $30

Deuel is the author of “Friday Was the Bomb: Five Years in the Middle East.”

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The Black and White

Book Reviews: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being A Wallflower, a teenage classic, sits on the bookshelves of many students. Despite its trite themes, the novel puts a new spin on adulthood. Photo by Olivia Matthews.

By Elea Levin October 11, 2017

The premise of Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower is reminiscent of many other works of young adult, realistic fiction: a troubled, socially-awkward boy who has experienced a series of unfortunate events over the course of his life starts high school and eventually breaks out of his shell. Still, even within a fairly basic plot, Chbosky manages to tackle sophisticated and under-discussed themes with elegance and clarity. A must-read for teens and adults alike, the book addresses domestic violence, sexuality, mental health and sexual abuse, all while maintaining a generally uplifting and riveting tone and writing style.

The entirety of the novel is written as letters from the main character, Charlie, to a “friend” whose identity is never revealed. The letters chronicle Charlie’s first year of high school. In addition to adding a unique stylistic aspect to Chbosky’s writing, the letter-by-letter format offers an inherent connection to Charlie. Charlie is a self-described wallflower, and, after experiencing the death of his Aunt Helen in a car crash and the suicide of his only friend, he admits that he often neglects to “participate” in his own life. Though the rest of the story focuses on  describing Charlie’s journey to become involved in the world around him, it’s also in no way the standard “hero’s journey” that is so often regurgitated in literature. Sure, Charlie’s overall self esteem increases as the plot advances, but he faces obstacles that many novels of the same genre ignore.

It becomes clear early on that Charlie struggles with depression, among other mental health issues, but what Chbosky doesn’t mention until much later is that he has been further traumatized by years of sexual abuse, memories which he subconsciously represses. The hauntingly realistic way in which Chbosky depicts sexual assault draws attention to how society often fails to protect its most vulnerable members.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a must-read for all ages not only because of its gripping plot, but also because of how seamlessly Chbosky balances engaging and even hopeful writing with tragic events. Chbosky discusses some of the most serious issues of our time in a non-glamorized, raw fashion.The unembellished retellings of such events paired with a generally hopeful message is a welcome change from novels whose authors use serious, real-world issues as a way to simply make a story more edgy and gripping.

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• Arts & Culture / Featured

Banned Books in Review: ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’

· January 18, 2023

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

More than 1,600 books across 32 states were banned during the 2021-’22 school year. In Idaho, 26 titles were banned across three school districts, underscoring a trend spearheaded primarily by right-wing religious groups pushing for censorship of books that feature LGBTQ+ characters, as well as sexual and racial situations they deem inappropriate for students.  

In an attempt to shed light on this development, I have pledged to read all 26 books banned last year in Idaho and share with our readers what they are all about, why they were likely banned and what we are missing by promoting censorship of the written word.

Stephen Chbosky’s 1999 debut novel, ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower.’ Courtesy photo.

American writer and director Stephen Chbosky has only penned two novels in his career, each separated by two decades. After graduating from the University of Southern California Filmic Writing screenwriting program, Chbosky wrote, directed and acted in the 1995 independent film The Four Corners of Nowhere , which was accepted by the Sundance Film Festival.  

Trained as a screenwriter, Chbosky began working on what he called a “very different type of book” in 1994. He had written the line, “I guess that’s just one of the perks of being a wallflower,” and suddenly realized that “somewhere in that [sentence] was the kid I was really trying to find.”

The novel became The Perks of Being a Wallflower, published by MTV Books in 1999. It was an immediate success with teenage readers, who found his raw, unvarnished writing style refreshing, albeit melancholic.  

After Wallflower, Chbosky returned to the film and television world, ultimately writing and directing the film adaptation of his debut novel in 2012, as well as spearheading several other popular works. More recently, Chbosky directed the coming-of-age musical film Dear Evan Hansen.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of those books you read and feel the weight of each printed word. Styled as an epistolary novel — that is, consisting of a series of letters — the story follows Charlie, an introverted kid starting his freshman year of high school sometime in the 1990s. We gather immediately from his letters written to an unknown recipient that Charlie is a very observant teenager — literally a wallflower who watches everything from the sidelines. Crippled with the weight of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood, Charlie also battles with a couple of dark events in his past: the suicide of his only friend Michael and the death of his favorite aunt Helen.

Thanks to a caring English teacher who insists Charlie call him Bill, Charlie leans into a passion for reading. Bill assigns him books and reports outside the scope of the class, and Charlie devours them all.

Along the way, Charlie befriends two upperclassmen — stepsiblings Patrick and Sam. Patrick is gay and secretly dating a football player. Sam is Patrick’s stepsister. The seniors unlock Charlie’s potential by welcoming him into their group of “others,” which they refer to as “wallflowers.” Neither of them are “cool” by any metric, because they refuse to play the popularity game that overshadows most high school experiences. But they’re authentic and recognize Charlie as one of their own.

At the end of the year, faced with losing his only two friends as they are graduating, Charlie pines after Sam, who eventually shows him affection back. The physical interaction between them unearths uncomfortable childhood memories for Charlie, and we learn that his favorite aunt Helen actually molested him when he was a child.  

This is a pivotal moment for the reader, as we understand that Charlie’s stress and anxiety — as well as his discomfort with physical affection — stems back to his aunt.

The novel ends with Charlie entering a catatonic state, being admitted to a mental hospital and coming to terms with his childhood abuse. By the last page, he has taken control of his life, promising to “participate” instead of just being a wallflower.

Why it was banned

Author Stephen Chbosky. Courtesy photo.

There is little doubt in my mind the reasons why The Perks of Being a Wallflower has been banned by many school districts across the nation. While I don’t agree with banning books, I do believe this book is best suited for older teenagers or adults, because the themes can be dark at times. There are references to date rape, masturbation, childhood incest, the glorification of alcohol and drug use, as well as suicide and homosexuality.  

It’s a very raw, moving story — especially for anyone who felt like an “other” during their high school years. It’s also a triumphant tale of someone overcoming their own anxiety, PTSD and awkwardness to become a functioning member of society.  

Should a young child read this book? Nope. The themes are too advanced for anyone who isn’t at least in high school to fully understand what they’re reading. But banning this book only limits those who might find their own strength through Charlie’s story, because there is hope in this book. Sometimes that’s all we need.  

If Chbosky had watered down his writing to be more widely accepted, this novel wouldn’t be as widely acclaimed, because there is nothing more cringeworthy than attempting to tell a poignant story with surface-level, G-rated concepts. It’s like the cast of Full House trying to act out the Broadway play Rent — it just wouldn’t work.

Final thoughts

Our high school years are often filled with disturbing themes and melancholy — like a song that makes us sad but we don’t really understand why. There’s a perpetual need to be cool, to be popular, to be likable. There’s a desire to stick out enough to get noticed, but not enough to ostracize yourself. It’s a fine line many walk every day, and it can be emotionally, physically and mentally exhausting to finally make it through high school and get out once and for all.  

Some thrive during these years. Others just want to experience a moment without the pervasive judgment of their peers.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower captures this weariness with expertise, as if Chbosky only had to tap into his feelings just beneath the surface to find the pathos that defines his existence. Through Charlie’s letters, we discover he’s a smart, sensitive and driven teenager, but he doesn’t relate to the football players, cheerleaders or popular kids. He feels lost and somewhat hopeless, as many of us have when we’re unable to relate to anybody else going through something similar. But he’s not just another lemming. He has something inside him that is compassionate, funny and yearning for acceptance.

I felt what Charlie was feeling when he wrote those letters. I understood his conflict, his desires and his hopelessness. And I also smiled whenever he overcame these crippling emotions, because it proved to me that Charlie — who could be any one of us — has found a way to live that isn’t the cliché existence everyone pushes, but a more honest, even if flawed, version of himself. That’s a fate I think any of us can get behind.

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One kid’s lucky freshman year

We are republishing this review in honor of the 10th anniversary of the passing of Roger Ebert . Read why one of our contributors chose this review here .

All of my previous selves still survive somewhere inside of me, and my previous adolescent would have loved “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” The movie has received glowing reviews, and some snarky ones that seem to have been written by previous adults. The film is about an alienated high-school freshman who sees himself as a chronic outsider, and then is befriended by a group of older kids who embrace their non-conformist status.

The movie confirms one of my convictions: If you are too popular in high school, you may become so fond of the feeling that you never find out who you really are. The film is based on Stephen Chbosky’s best-selling young-adult novel, which was published in 1999 and is now on many shelves next to The Catcher in the Rye . It offers the rare pleasure of an author directing his own book, and doing it well. No one who loves the book will complain about the movie, and especially not about its near-ideal casting.

The story, set in the early 1990s, tells the story of Charlie ( Logan Lerman ), who begins it as a series of letters to a “friend.” He enters high school tremulously and without confidence, and is faced on his first day by that great universal freshman crisis: Which table in the lunchroom will they let me sit at? Discouraged at several tables, he’s welcomed by two smart and sympathetic seniors.

They are Sam and Patrick, played by Emma Watson in her own coming-of-age role after the “Harry Potter” movies, and Ezra Miller , who was remarkable as an alienated teenager in “ We Need to Talk About Kevin .” Charlie makes the mistake of assuming they are a couple, and Sam’s laughter corrects him; actually, they’re half-siblings. Charlie is on the edge of outgrowing his depression and dorkdom, and is eerily likable in his closed-off way. One of the key players in his life is the dead aunt ( Melanie Lynskey ) he often has imaginary meetings with.

Patrick is tall, gangly and gay; Sam is friendly and lovable. Charlie gets a quick crush on her, but she explains she has a b.f. and encourages his friendship. Through them, he meets the quasi-punk Mary Elizabeth ( Mae Whitman ), who definitely is interested in dating him, and a pothead named Bob (Adam Hagenbuch), who nudges Charlie toward adventures most teenagers have once in life, and few should have twice.

We learn a lot about their high school crowd by finding out they’re instrumental in the local midnight showings of “ The Rocky Horror Picture Show .” When Charlie is unexpectedly pressed into service playing a key role one night during their performance, it provides him with a turning point that may be contrived but is certainly entertaining.

Their crowd is artsy, outsider, non-conformist. They become the influence that rescues Charlie from his deep insecurity and his depression over the suicide of a friend; they teach him it’s OK to be who he is. In his first year, he learns a little, very tentatively, about sex, drinking and drugs, and a lot about friendship.

He’s also guided by Mr. Anderson ( Paul Rudd ), his English teacher, who steers him toward seminal books including, yes, The Catcher in the Rye . Why is it that English, drama and music teachers are most often recalled as our mentors and inspirations? Maybe because artists are rarely members of the popular crowd.

Note: This review includes material from my Toronto Film Festival blog post about this title.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

• Paul Rudd as Mr. Anderson
• Kate Walsh as Mom
• Ezra Miller as Patrick
• Logan Lerman as Charlie
• Emma Watson as Sam
• Mae Whitman as Mary Elizabeth
• Dylan McDermott as Dad
• Melanie Lynskey as Aunt Helen

Written and directed by

• Stephen Chbosky

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Book Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I chose this book because I had watched the movie and was curious as to how the book was in comparison. I found that both were great overall and I don't dislike one more than the other, but the book felt more mature than the movie. Overall I really did enjoy this book, the detail in the book was a great touch, as well as was relatable. Personally, I felt a connection to some of the characters having to leave for college and trying to get the best possible score on the SAT. There is only one thing I did not enjoy about this book though, which is that there is a lot of smoking. The smoking feels a bit excessive, especially when the book follows a freshman in high school, so the amount of smoking I feel like does not portray a true aspect of what that would look like in real life. I would recommend this book to an upper teenage audience since there are mature topics such as brief sexual scenes and smoking. I gave this book 4 stars since I felt like it was very well written and an enjoyable book to read; the deduction of one star was due to the portrayal of smoking. This is honestly a great read that I personally love, I would definitely recommend it!

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower Paperback – August 14, 2012

• Print length 224 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 9 - 12
• Lexile measure 720L
• Dimensions 8.66 x 5.91 x 0.98 inches
• Publication date August 14, 2012
• ISBN-10 9781451696196
• ISBN-13 978-1451696196
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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1451696191
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ MTV Books; Media Tie-In edition (August 14, 2012)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781451696196
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1451696196
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14+ years, from customers
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 720L
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.1 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.66 x 5.91 x 0.98 inches
• #1 in Teen & Young Adult LGBTQ+ Fiction (Books)
• #5 in Teen & Young Adult Coming of Age Fiction
• #20 in TV, Movie & Game Tie-In Fiction

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About the author, stephen chbosky.

Stephen Chbosky (/ʃəˈbɒski/; born January 25, 1970) is an American novelist, screenwriter, and film director best known for writing the New York Times bestselling coming-of-age novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower (1999), as well as for screenwriting and directing the film version of the same book, starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller. He also wrote the screenplay for the 2005 film Rent, and was co-creator, executive producer, and writer of the CBS television series Jericho, which began airing in 2006.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Lawrence Truett, aka Ltruett at en.wikipedia derivative work: RanZag [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

Customer reviews

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• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 77% 15% 5% 1% 1% 1%

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Customers say

Customers find the story unique, poignant, and relatable. They also describe the book as well-written, detailed, and simplistic. Readers find the book insightful, observant, curious, and endearing. They describe it as entertaining, relaxing, and satisfying. Additionally, they mention the emotional content is fantastic and makes them cry. Reader also appreciate the rich in depth and easy to create connections with characters.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the story unique, poignant, relatable, and raw. They say it captures the truth behind life and is unforgettable. Readers also mention the plot is interesting, but they couldn't find a reason to be excited.

"...You may find it not only intriguging and moving, but healing. And who of us can't use a touch of healing now-and-then?..." Read more

"...She’s got very little personality, aside from being fascinating , gorgeous, mysterious, and sexy...." Read more

"...Either way, they are poetic and haunting at times , but always innocent and frequently humorous...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book immensely. I found it compelling , sweet, interesting, well-written, and an overall great book...." Read more

Customers find the book well-written, detailed, and well-established. They also say the dialogue and intuitive thinking are effective. Readers mention the book is easy to follow and fun to read.

"...teenagers, but into life at all stages -- this while being extremely well-written and without calling attention to its well-written-ness...." Read more

"...It was completely perfect and well-established by the text and at times I even wondered if something like that was coming...." Read more

"...it does provide a bit of youthful feel and the frank honesty of the voice is highly engaging ...." Read more

"...I found it compelling, sweet, interesting, well-written , and an overall great book...." Read more

Customers find the book insightful, observant, and honest. They say it offers excellent discussion points and explores topics that many authors would shy away from. Readers also mention the book is interesting and a great means of developing and changing.

"...He grows emotionally and intellectually ...." Read more

"...He has this naiveté and innocence that is curious and endearing , but most of all is he is genuine...." Read more

"...In the story Charlie is so observant and honest - a wallflower, he loses so much information that most boys his age catch on to immediately, like..." Read more

"...record and starts living again. This is the clearest pocket encyclopedia of high school divided into four parts and decorated with a soothing..." Read more

Customers find the book entertaining, relaxing, and engaging. They say it's a beautiful experience that allows them to truly step outside. Readers also mention the book is great for teens and adults.

"...often gripping story, particularly at the end, and it opened a window not just into teenagers , but into life at all stages -- this while being..." Read more

"...Either way, they are poetic and haunting at times, but always innocent and frequently humorous...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book immensely. I found it compelling, sweet , interesting, well-written, and an overall great book...." Read more

"...I loved this book. It's about this weird kid in high school and its very funny . It is also very relatable...." Read more

Customers find the book fantastically emotional, accessible, and beautifully crafted. They say it makes them cry their eyes out, smile, and weep. Readers also mention the book is unflinching and cringe-inducing. They also say it provides some solace and makes everything feel more real.

"...He reads with great emotion too. This was really a perfect book for the audio format...." Read more

"...Perks by Stephen Chbosky is brilliantly written, with deep emotional content and powerful messages and lessons that I believe all teenagers should..." Read more

"...I grew up in a different culture, and all the teen emotions felt visceral and familiar ...." Read more

"...encyclopedia of high school divided into four parts and decorated with a soothing epilogue . Maybe it's because I read ANTHEM by AYN RAND..." Read more

Customers find the characters rich in depth and easy to connect with. They also appreciate the skillful weaving of dialogue between characters. Readers mention the book is an honest portrayal of high school.

"...Charlie’s a really great and unique character , something which I couldn’t appreciate back when I tried to read it as a teen...." Read more

"...Sam and Patrick are both very interesting people , both seniors and consider themselves to be very cultured and individualistic...." Read more

"...He was an extremely relatable character and this brought back so many not so great memories about high school, and things I absolutely hated about..." Read more

"...for all you fancy folks--novel is fantastic and I love the complexity of the characters , but also how simply Charlie’s outlook can be at times...." Read more

Customers find the book honest, heartfelt, and inspiring. They say the voice is distinctive and believable. Readers also mention the book is very true to real life and provides valuable insights.

"...He has an astonishing honesty , a naive not-understanding, and his use of words frequently has that unintended poetic feel of children...." Read more

"...sexual identity, and so on, I think this is a book that is very true to real life ...." Read more

"...circle of friends very quickly because they are so interesting, fun, honest , and forgiving...." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some mention it deals with contemporary themes and places no judgments on the lives of its characters. Others say it's a little slow at first, the timing isn't in the present, and the comments, feelings, and actions never seem to make sense.

"...Charlie, Sam, and Patrick are all very well crafted and distinct . Likable too...." Read more

"...The timing isn't in the present . I was actually a little bit confused about it...." Read more

"...He's naïve and precocious and childish and odd and enlightening and invisible and seen and I could have tried pot brownies and would have had no..." Read more

"...intent on teaching morals, they end up entirely predictable, and insultingly simple ...." Read more

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An Introvert Finds His Way Through Teenage Terrain

• Share full article

By Manohla Dargis

• Sept. 20, 2012

Stephen Chbosky is at least one director who can’t be accused of having bowdlerized or betrayed a beloved novel. He not only directed the big-screen teenage confessional “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” which tracks the ups, downs and playlists of an introverted high school freshman, he also wrote the 1999 young-adult book on which it’s based.

As in the novel, the story turns on Charlie (Logan Lerman), a melancholic teenager who has endured his share of sorrows and, when the story cranks up in 1991, is praying to make it through the new school year. His prayers are answered when he’s rescued by the friendships he makes with Patrick (a charismatic Ezra Miller) and Patrick’s stepsister, Sam (Emma Watson). Buoyed by these two and several other self-identified nonconformists, including a sexual steamroller, Mary Elizabeth (a lively Mae Whitman), Charlie experiences what almost every teenage hero does in an American movie about nominal outsiders: he finds his tribe and then himself.

The anguish of adolescence may be different for everyone, but the movies about those years of sorrow and confusion rarely deviate from the template. Charlie’s parents aren’t tearing him apart, to borrow a celebrated howl from “ Rebel Without a Cause ,” the ur Teen Angst movie. Even so, many of the same matters that sent the teenagers in “Rebel” into such beautiful, stirring agonies — sex, sanity, conformity, masculinity and its discontents — trouble Charlie and his friends too. Beyond the clothes and tunes, much remains the same about these unwonderful years, including the dreads, dreams and bullies. And because so many of those tears and fears are so familiar, they can’t help being pretty touching: In melodrama, we cry for them, but also for ourselves.

Instead of trying to mimic the book’s epistolary voice, Mr. Chbosky brings you into this familiar world through the usual cinematic points of view, by way of Charlie’s eyes, voice and flashbacks, but also through the ubiquitously hovering camera. The results are likable, unsurprising and principally a showcase for the pretty young cast, notably Mr. Miller, who brings texture to his witty if sensitive gay quipster.

Mr. Lerman and especially Ms. Watson are also appealing if comparably less vital presences. Their characters never expand beyond their generic if sensitive outlines, from the books (“ The Catcher in the Rye ”) that Charlie gobbles like a starving child to the battles that he and all his friends fight at school, home and in their heads. Of course you want them to make it out O.K., just as you did.

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). Teenage troubles.

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

In case you didn't see the flair, this post contains spoilers .

I recently finished The Perks of Being a Wallflower and I have mixed thoughts on it. I'd like to start off by saying that I enjoyed the book. The format was new to me and it added great mystery and provided a new and interesting format to experience. The letter-style undoubtedly added suspense and felt like I was left on the edge of a cliff at the end of each letter because the next had the potential to take the story in any direction, which is perfect in a book about the turbid life of a teenager.

To jump right to the chase, the ending ruined the book for me. I personally feel like the entire aunt Helen situation was incredibly unnecessary. The plot of the entire book is essentially the unraveling of Charlies molestation by his aunt. The very first letter speaks about aunt Helen and Charlies (now seemingly deluded) feelings about her and the epilogue closes with the realization that Charlie was molested. To me this seemed entirely unnecessary, as I stated.

At the beginning of, and during, this book seemed to be a story about the plights of a teenager. It was about coming of age and the confusion that comes along with it. The new feelings, changing body parts and so on. Charlie was a confused, awkward, and seemingly depressed kid trying to figure out high school and fit in. He had a hard time in the beginning but eventually Charlie found success, through him we were able to see that the popular kids aren't always the best choice. All you have to do is find your own crowd, and once you do things will make sense and fall into place. In this regard the book seemed very relatable to me, and presumably a lot of people who are currently or once were confused teenagers trying to find their place in the world. The book pointed out that its okay to be sad. However, at the end most of this was ripped away. We find out that Charlie has his issues due to him being a victim to aunt Helen. I feel like it closed a door to many people. Instead of being a relatable book, its not. The book began to send a message like everybody needs a reason/excuse for the confusion. Charlie wasn't awkward and confused because he's a developing teen and that just how they are, he's that way due to trauma.

I worry that I am not articulating my thoughts clearly, but in conclusion I believe that the molestation was unnecessary. It made the book harder to relate to and casted a shadow along the lines of "High school is hard, but not because of being at a new place, coming of age, and being surrounded by social pressure, it is only confusing and difficult for those with past trauma". This trend is not just exemplified with Charlie. It is hinted at with Sam, and many other characters in the book.

I understand this will probably spark controversy and many will think I'm wrong, but please be civil with it and explain why. I would love to have my opinion changed.

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

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Rent The Perks of Being a Wallflower on Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a heartfelt and sincere adaptation that's bolstered by strong lead performances.

Critics Reviews

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Stephen Chbosky

Logan Lerman

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Ezra Miller

Mae Whitman

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Perks Of Being A Wallflower Book Review

Perks Of Being A Wallflower Book Review: Discovering the Beauty of Adolescence

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, written by Stephen Chbosky, is a coming-of-age novel that has captivated readers since its publication in 1999. Set in the early 1990s, the book follows the journey of Charlie, an introverted high school freshman, as he navigates the complexities of adolescence, friendship, love, and mental health. With its raw and honest portrayal of teenage life, this book has become a modern classic that continues to resonate with readers of all ages.

Unique Facts about The Perks of Being a Wallflower:

1. Semi-autobiographical: The author, Stephen Chbosky, has stated that the novel is semi-autobiographical, drawing inspiration from his own experiences during his teenage years. This personal touch adds authenticity to the story and allows readers to relate to the characters on a deeper level.

2. Epistolary format: The book is presented in the form of letters written by Charlie to an anonymous recipient, which adds an intimate and confessional tone to the narrative. This format allows readers to gain insight into Charlie’s thoughts, fears, and hopes, making it feel like a personal conversation.

3. Cult following: The Perks of Being a Wallflower has amassed a dedicated fan base over the years, with readers becoming deeply connected to the characters and their struggles. The book has been praised for its ability to capture the essence of adolescence and has become a staple in many young adult literature curriculums.

4. Film adaptation: In 2012, the book was adapted into a film starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller. While adaptations can often fall short of expectations, this film successfully captured the essence of the novel and brought the story to life for a new generation of fans.

5. Critical acclaim: The Perks of Being a Wallflower has received widespread critical acclaim for its honest portrayal of teenage life and its exploration of important themes such as mental health, identity, and the power of friendship. It has been praised for its relatability, emotional depth, and beautifully written prose.

1. Is The Perks of Being a Wallflower appropriate for young readers? While the book deals with mature themes such as mental health, sexuality, and trauma, it is often recommended for readers aged 14 and above. Parents and educators should consider the maturity level of the reader before making a decision.

2. Does the book address mental health issues? Yes, the book delves into mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It offers a sensitive portrayal of these topics, shedding light on the importance of seeking help and finding support.

3. Does the book have a happy ending? Without giving away too much, the book concludes on a hopeful note, emphasizing the power of friendship and personal growth. It is a bittersweet ending that leaves readers with a sense of optimism.

4. Is the language and writing style easy to understand? The writing style is straightforward and accessible, making it easy for readers of all ages to engage with the story. However, some readers may find the emotional depth and mature themes challenging.

5. Can adults enjoy this book, or is it only for teenagers? While the book primarily focuses on the teenage experience, adults can also find value in its themes and relatable characters. Many readers have praised the book for its ability to evoke nostalgia and resonate with their own adolescent experiences.

6. Are there any trigger warnings for sensitive readers? Yes, the book contains sensitive content, including discussions of sexual assault, drug use, and self-harm. Readers who may be triggered by these topics should approach the book with caution.

7. How long does it take to read The Perks of Being a Wallflower? The book is relatively short, with an average reading time of around 6-8 hours, depending on the reader’s pace.

8. Can the book be used in classrooms or book clubs? Absolutely! The Perks of Being a Wallflower is often included in high school curriculums and is a great choice for book clubs due to its thought-provoking themes and discussion-worthy content.

9. Does the book have LGBTQ+ representation? Yes, the book features LGBTQ+ characters and explores their experiences and relationships, offering a refreshing and inclusive perspective.

10. Is there a sequel to The Perks of Being a Wallflower? No, the book does not have a sequel. The story is self-contained and wraps up effectively in a single volume.

11. Is the book suitable for readers who are not native English speakers? The language used in the book is generally straightforward, making it accessible to non-native English speakers. However, some cultural references and slang may require additional context.

12. How has the book impacted readers’ lives? Many readers credit The Perks of Being a Wallflower with helping them navigate their own teenage years, offering solace and a sense of belonging. Its themes of self-discovery and acceptance have resonated with countless individuals.

13. Can the book be emotionally challenging to read? Yes, the book addresses heavy topics and can be emotionally challenging for some readers. It is important to approach the book with self-care in mind and seek support if needed.

In conclusion, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a beautifully written coming-of-age novel that continues to touch the hearts of readers worldwide. With its relatable characters, honest portrayal of teenage struggles, and exploration of important themes, it remains a timeless and impactful piece of literature. Whether you’re a teenager or an adult, this book has the power to evoke nostalgia, inspire self-reflection, and remind us of the beauty and complexities of adolescence.

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