Saturday, November 22, 2014

The Lightning Thief Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan, Robert Venditti, Attila Futaki, Jose Villarubia

Title: The Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan, Robert Venditti, Attila Futaki, Jose Villarubia
Release date: October 12, 2010
Pages: 128

You've read the book. You've seen the movie. Now submerge yourself in the thrilling, stunning, and action-packed graphic novel.

Mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking out of the pages of twelve-year-old Percy Jackson's textbooks and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now, he and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus.

Series creator Rick Riordan joins forces with some of the biggest names in the comic book industry to tell the story of a boy who must unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.
The Lightning Thief graphic novel is the first in the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series.  It tells the same story as the text novel, just in an illustrated format. I have not read the regular novel so I can't tell you how the two compare but the graphic novel was a fun, easy to read story about half-blood children of the Gods and their quest to stop a war brewing between the Gods.  It's an extremely quick read with very little text but plenty of gorgeous, action packed illustrations.

The Lightning Thief graphic novel can easily be read by YA readers of pretty much any age.  It does have a few more graphic scenes but nothing too bad.  It would be a good place to start teens learning about Greek mythology.

Themes:

  • identity
  • isolation
  • love
  • family
  • disabilities
  • mythology

Extra content:

Murphy's Library's review: "I thought the history and the graphics were like pieces of a puzzle and it went together so well."

Mother, Daughter, & Son Book Reviews' review: "It bridged the reading levels across the group and it was an enjoyable experience for everyone, even kids who thought they hated Percy Jackson."

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Title: Crank
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Release date: January 1, 2001
Pages: 537

In Crank, Ellen Hopkins chronicles the turbulent and often disturbing relationship between Kristina, a character based on her own daughter, and the "monster," the highly addictive drug crystal meth, or "crank." Kristina is introduced to the drug while visiting her largely absent and ne'er-do-well father. While under the influence of the monster, Kristina discovers her sexy alter-ego, Bree: "there is no perfect daughter, / no gifted high school junior, / no Kristina Georgia Snow. / There is only Bree." Bree will do all the things good girl Kristina won't, including attracting the attention of dangerous boys who can provide her with a steady flow of crank.
Crank is the story of Kristina, better known as Bree, her alter-ego.  During a trip to visit her father Bree discovers two things: boys and crystal meth.  With her return home to live with her mother, she takes her new found love for both things with her.  Throughout the course of the book Bree becomes more and more addicted to meth and the people that provide it for her, usually boys that are no good for her.  Crank is a story of addiction and abuse told through verse.

Crank is definitely not something I would recommend to readers that aren't in high school, at least.  It's a very dark story full of drugs, alcohol, sex, abuse, and other heavy topics that younger readers might not be able to comprehend.  While it is a dark story, it's one that deserves to be read.  It is a book that will make you think.

Themes:

  • abuse
  • addiction
  • family
  • love
  • loss of innocence
Extra content:

I'm Loving Books' review: "In the end I was not a huge fan of this book and I’m not entirely sure if it’s the style (in-verse) or if it’s the author."

Peeking Between The Pages' review: "Crank by Ellen Hopkins is an intense and intricately woven story of the damage that drugs can do an individual and those around them."


Endangered by Eliot Schrefer

Title: Endangered
Author: Eliot Schrefer
Release date: October 1, 2012
Pages: 272

The compelling tale of a girl who must save a group of bonobos--and herself--from a violent coup.

The Congo is a dangerous place, even for people who are trying to do good.

When one girl has to follow her mother to her sanctuary for bonobos, she's not thrilled to be there. It's her mother's passion, and she'd rather have nothing to do with it. But when revolution breaks out and their sanctuary is attacked, she must rescue the bonobos and hide in the jungle. Together, they will fight to keep safe, to eat, and to survive.

Eliot Schrefer asks readers what safety means, how one sacrifices to help others, and what it means to be human in this new compelling adventure.
Endangered is the story of a young girl caught in the middle of a war in Congo with no one but a bonobo named Otto to help her survive.  It's told over the course of many months and spread over many towns in Congo.  There is very little dialogue or interaction with humans but the bonobos are really portrayed like people.  Each bonobo in the book is a character more than an animal.

Endangered can easily by read by younger teens and the animal aspect may appeal to them.  However there are some very graphic scenes that may not be suitable for younger readers.  I would recommend older middle school or older for this one.

Themes:

  • war
  • famine
  • safety
  • friendship
  • humanity 
  • family
Extra content:

Rather Be Reading's review: "As a whole, Endangered has the feel of those naturalistic but intense novels from my childhood (Lord of the Flies, Bridge to Terabithia, Julie & the Wolves) because it can be enjoyed by both sexes equally and forces great discussions, while beaming with this timeless quality."

Beauty and the Bookshelf's review: "For one, I wish there were more books like this, books that show other parts of the world that are less fortunate, books about fighting for what I want to fight for and work with so, so much: animals."


Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

Title: Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes
Author: Chris Crutcher
Release date: January 1, 1993
Pages: 304

Sarah Byrnes and Eric have been friends for years. When they were children, his fat and her terrible scars made them both outcasts. Later, although swimming slimmed Eric, she stayed his closest friend.

Now Sarah Byrnes—the smartest, toughest person Eric has ever known—sits silent in a hospital. Eric must uncover the terrible secret she's hiding, before its dark currents pull them both under.
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is the story of two kids, Eric and Sarah Byrnes, brought together by their outcast status.  Sarah Byrnes is severely scarred and Eric is seriously fat.  Their friendship changes when Eric joins the swim team and loses a lot of weight.  Their friendship is tested though when Sarah Byrnes enters a catatonic state and Eric starts to investigate what it is that made her that way.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is a novel that can easily be read by younger readers but it does touch on some topics that might be better suited to older readers of YA.  I would definitely recommend this one for late middle school or early high school readers though older readers (such as myself) can also enjoy the story.

Themes:

  • bullying
  • friendship
  • religion
  • abuse
  • love
  • family
  • abortion
  • abandonment
  • suicide 
Extra content:

YA Love Blog's review: "In my opinion, if you’re a teacher or librarian, it would serve you well to have a copy of Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes in your library."

Reading For Sanity's review: "While plenty of books on the YA shelves are meaningless drivel, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is not one of them."

Interview with Chris Crutcher

Author chat with Chris Crutcher

Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang

Title: Boxers & Saints
Author: Gene Luen Yang
Release date: September 10, 2013
Pages: 325, 170

One of the greatest comics storytellers alive brings all his formidable talents to bear in this astonishing new work.

In two volumes, Boxers & Saints tells two parallel stories. The first is of Little Bao, a Chinese peasant boy whose village is abused and plundered by Westerners claiming the role of missionaries. Little Bao, inspired by visions of the Chinese gods, joins a violent uprising against the Western interlopers. Against all odds, their grass-roots rebellion is successful.

But in the second volume, Yang lays out the opposite side of the conflict. A girl whose village has no place for her is taken in by Christian missionaries and finds, for the first time, a home with them. As the Boxer Rebellion gains momentum, Vibiana must decide whether to abandon her Christian friends or to commit herself fully to Christianity.

Boxers & Saints is one of the most ambitious graphic novels First Second has ever published. It offers a penetrating insight into not only one of the most controversial episodes of modern Chinese history, but into the very core of our human nature. Gene Luen Yang is rightly called a master of the comics form, and this book will cement that reputation.

This boxed set includes the trade paperback Boxers as well as the trade paperback Saints, packaged together in one slipcase.

Boxers & Saints are two graphic novels chronicling the boxer rebellion from the perspectives of both the boxers and the Christian converts in China.  The first book, Boxers, is from the point of view of Little Bao, one of the figureheads of the Boxer rebellion.  The second book, Saints, is from the point of view of Vibiana, a young Chinese girl who converts to Christianity during the boxer rebellion.  The stories intertwine throughout  both books and the full story is truly told through both books.

Boxers & Saints might be made easier to read by their graphic novel format but they are not meant for readers much younger than high school age.  The story is brutal and graphic.  Older readers and older teen readers are going to be the ones to appreciate this story the most.

My full review!

Themes:

  • war
  • love
  • family
  • loyalty
  • rejection
  • religion
  • bravery
  • friendship
Extra content:

Between My Pages' review: "It offers a penetrating insight into not only one of the most controversial episodes of modern Chinese history, but into the very core of our human nature."

Emilie Hanson's review: "As a pair, both Boxers and Saints create a thought-provoking reading experience for readers young and old, inspiring questions as to how history is made and how much it depends on point of view."

Interview with Gene Luen Yang

Another interview with Gene Luen Yang

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Title: Code Name Verity
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Release date: May 7, 2013
Pages: 339

Oct. 11th, 1943-A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.

When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?

A Michael L. Printz Award Honor book that was called "a fiendishly-plotted mind game of a novel" in The New York Times, Code Name Verity is a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other.
Code Name Verity is the story of two young British women in WWII.  One of them is a spy captured by the Nazis in German occupied France.  The other is the pilot who brought her there.  Verity (the spy) is forced to write a confession about the British war efforts.  The beginning of her friendship with the pilot is told through this confession.  The second half of the book is told from the pilot's point of view detailing what happened following the plane crash.

Code Name Verity is historical fiction and so it may not appeal to most readers.  However, it's a thrilling, informative novel great for teen readers.  Because of some content I would recommend this for late middle school/high school age readers.

My full review!

Themes:

  • friendship
  • loyalty
  • war
  • death
  • bravery
  • right and wrong
Extra content:

The Book Smugglers' review: "Above all though, Code Name Verity is about its two main characters, two incredible women (I LOVE them. I.LOVE.THEM) and the friendship they had – they are indeed sensational and I wish I could tell you how or why but I can’t really tell you more about Verity without stealing her thunder."

Dear Author's review: "“Code Name Verity” is unlike any book I’ve ever read before."

Interview with Elizabeth Wein

Another interview with Elizabeth Wein

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Title: Wonder
Author: R.J. Palacio
Release date: February 14, 2012
Pages: 316

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.
Wonder is the story of August (Auggie) Pullman, a young boy born with a facial deformity who is finally going to a traditional school.  The story is told from multiple points of view including Auggie, his sister, his best friend, and other people somehow connected to Auggie's life.  It's a story about trying to blend in when you were meant to stand out, trying to be brave when you're more afraid than ever, and trying to be ordinary when  you're nothing short of extraordinary.

Wonder is a middle grade novel that is a lot heavier than most middle grade books. It's aimed at readers around Auggie's age (5th grade) but can be read and enjoyed by readers much older.  It's a novel that makes you think and makes you take a deeper look at the world around you.

Themes:

Judgment
Compassion
Friendship
Identity
Courage

Extra content:

Badass Book Reviews' review: "Our world could use a dose self-reflection, and it could use a good size helping of compassion too."

The Well-Read Redhead's review: "This book was obviously written with young adults as the target audience, but as a parent, I also took a lot away from this in terms of the lessons I'd like to teach my kids about accepting and helping others."

Interview with R.J. Palacio

Friday, November 21, 2014

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Title: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock
Author: Matthew Quick
Release date: August 13, 2013
Pages: 273

Leonard Peacock is turning 18. And he wants to say goodbye.

Not to his former best friend, whose torments have driven him to consider committing something tragic and horrific.

Nor to his mum who's moved out and left him to fend form himself. But to his four friends. A Humphrey-Bogart-obsessed neighbour A teenage violin virtuoso A pastor's daughter A teacher

Most of the time, Leonard believes he's weird and sad but these friends have made him think that maybe he's not.

He wants to thank them, and bid them farewell.

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is the story of Leonard Peacock's final day. He has decided it's time to kill his former best friend as well as himself. He has presents for the few people he considers his friends and once those have been distributed his life can be done. The story is told from Leonard Peacock's point of view only and he is a bit of an unreliable narrator. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock was not one of my favorites this semester. I found Leonard really hard to like and a little overdramatic. I also found the portrayal of his mom to be unrealistic. The story itself was good and covered a lot of really interesting topics but other than that it had very little to recommend itself to me.

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is definitely best read by older teens. The topics covered are very heavy and emotional. It could be read by a younger teen but there are some things that might be difficult to comprehend.

Themes:

  • Forgiveness
  • Death 
  • Religion 
  • Suicide 
  • Abuse 
  • Loss of Innocence 
  • Friendship 
  • Family 
  • Love 

Extra content:

Cuddlebuggery's review: "All in all, I’m really glad I decided to check Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock out."

Steph Su Reads' review: "FORGIVE ME, LEONARD PEACOCK is arguably one of the most explosive and important books of this year, but if you knew nothing about Matthew Quick, most famously the author of Silver Linings Playbook, you probably wouldn't expect it."

Discussion Questions


Sunday, November 9, 2014

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Title: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
Release date: October 15, 2003
Pages: 552

It's just a small story really, about, among other things, a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery.

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist: books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids - as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.
The Book Thief is the story of Liesl, a young German girl growing up in Germany during World War II.  The story, however, is not narrated by Liesl.  It is instead narrated by death.  Death tells the story of Liesl stealing books, learning to read, learning compassion, writing her own story, and finally, grieving.

The Book Thief is a historical fiction novel that focuses on some very heavy topics.  The Book Thief was published in Australia before it was published in the United States and it was classified as adult fiction in Australia.  The decision to make it YA in the US centers on Liesl's age but it's actually very controversial since the subject matter could be better suited to older readers.  I, personally, think the adult classification might be better suited for The Book Thief but I do think young adult readers with enough maturity can take away a lot from the story.

Themes:
  • power of words
  • kindness/cruelty of humans
  • mortality
  • war
  • cowardice
  • criminality

Extra content:


Cuddlebuggery's review: "Zusak is an adept writer who uses words to great effect, and I love what he has done here."

Novelicious' review: "When a book is described to you as one of the greatest novels ever written, it has a lot to live up to, but this incredible book certainly managed to live up to the hype."

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
Release date: April 26, 1993
Pages: 179

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.
The Giver is a dystopian novel about a boy named Jonas who lives in a perfect society.  There is no crime, no racism, no poverty, no disease.  In faction, most members of the society don't even know what those things are.  They lives of everyone are mapped out from the start.  Everything is chosen for you and society members have no chance to make any decision for themselves.  Jonas would be perfectly content to live his life like this is he hadn't been chosen as the receiver of memories.

As receiver of memories, Jonas is given the knowledge of what life was like in the past.  He learns of war, poverty, hunger, and sickness but also joy, holidays, snow, and love.  With this new knowledge he must look closer at their society and see if there is something he can do to change things.

The Giver is often read by children in middle school but it can be read by much older readers.  Reading it as an adult allowed me to comprehend many things that I would not have understood as a younger reader.

My full review!

Themes:

  • importance of memory
  • choice
  • coming of age
  • individuality
  • love

Extra content:


Luna Station Quarterly's review: "The plot didn’t feel fully developed enough for me and I was still left with questions such as how did the world become this way?"

Thinking Out Loud's review: "This is a story that rallies against the sacrifice of freedom for the sake of sameness and peaceful control."

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Title: The One and Only Ivan
Author: Katherine Applegate
Release date: January 17, 2012
Pages: 307

Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.

Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.

Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.

Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan’s unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope.
The One and Only Ivan is a middle grade novel about Ivan, a silverback gorilla raised as an exhibit in a strip mall.  He's content with his way of life until a baby elephant named Ruby is brought to the mall as a new exhibit.  He makes a promise that he will get Ruby out and to a better life, no matter what it takes.

The One and Only Ivan is aimed at readers between the ages of 9-12.  However, that does not stop it from appealing to people not in that age range.  It can be read by someone much older, such as myself, or possibly even someone younger.

Themes:

  • friendship
  • belonging
  • art
  • hope
  • humanity
  • death

Extra content:



Blog of a Bookaholic's review: "Katherine Applegate has weaved together a haunting, beautiful story, filled with such vibrant, lovable characters that have set themselves a firm place in my heart."

Sweet on Books' review: "The One and Only Ivan has incredible depth."

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Release date: January 3, 2012
Pages: 390

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
Cinder is a dystopian retelling of Cinderella with a heroine who is part cyborg.  It's set in New Beijing, a futuristic Beijing featuring crazy technology and cyborgs as lesser citizens.  The story does feature similarities to Cinderella but there is much more to the story than a romance with a handsome prince.  At the heart of the story is a race for control of Earth, being headed by Queen Levana of the Lunar race of the moon.  Surprisingly, Cinder plays a huge role in the coming battle and Cinder is just the beginning of a 4 book series centered on this war.

Cinder is a dystopian with hints of steampunk, fantasy, and science fiction.  The age range would probably be around 13 and up though there is not much content that would be unsuitable for younger teens.

My full review!

Themes:
  • discrimination
  • death
  • friendship
  • identity
  • love
  • family 
  • war

Extra content:


Knite Writes' review: "It reads fairly young — much younger than I anticipated it would — and has basically no, even vaguely, mature content."

Nosegraze's review: "Marissa Meyer, you are now one of my favourite authors and the Cinder is right up there with my favourite books of all time!"

Marissa Meyer's website

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Release date: February 28, 2012
Pages: 487

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Divergent is the first in a young adult dystopian series.  It takes place in a futuristic Chicago where society is divided into five factions.  Each 16-year-old must choose a faction, pass through initiation, and become a full-fledged member of that faction, giving up anything and everything from outside the faction.  Each person only fits into one faction except for a rare group of people called Divergent.  Divergents are special and hated by the government.  Tris, the main character, is a Divergent and in her initiation she sets in motion things that may ultimately lead to war between the factions.

Divergent is dystopian with some science fiction, adventure, and romance.  Ideally it's for teens 13 or older because it does deal heavily with death and violence.

My full review!

Themes:
  • identity
  • bravery
  • family
  • society
  • love
  • friendship
  • choices
  • values
  • bullying

Extra content:


The Book Smugglers' review: "Though entertaining, this book does not provoke, incite, or demand a closer look at society – unlike, say The Giver, or Ship Breaker, or Patrick Ness’s Chaos Walking books."

The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Title: The Perks of Being A Wallflower
Author: Stephen Chbosky
Release date: February 1999
Pages: 213

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 sideline 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.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a young adult novel about a shy teenager named Charlie who is just entering high school and coming into his own.  It's told through letters written to an unknown friend chronicling his daily life.  It's a story about growing up, first dates, new friends, sex, drugs, and music.  Throughout the novel readers get to know Charlie as he is now and discover secrets from his past that even he doesn't know about.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is contemporary fiction through and through.  It's definitely a novel better suited for older teens as it features a lot of mature subjects and heavy topics.

After watching the movie, I feel like I can appreciate the book even more.  The casting was great and I thought Logan Lerman really captured Charlie's personality and quirkiness.  He was adorably cute.  I think the fact that Stephen Chbosky had such a huge role in the making of the movie helped make it so authentic but I can't say it's better than the book.

My full review!

Themes:
  • abuse
  • love
  • friendship
  • sexuality
  • family
  • coming of age
  • sex
  • drugs/alcohol

Extra content:


Wondrous Reads' review: "I feel like I have a new friend in Charlie who, like me, will always have a part of himself that fits into the wallflower category."

There is a reason why this book is so popular and appreciated by readers and, by reading it, you will certainly find out."

 Interview with Stephen Chbosky from LA Youth
Interview with Stephen Chbosky from Book Riot