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."

Hit Or Miss Books' review: "

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