The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

ISBN: 978-0-671-027346
Pocket Books, NY
1999
213 pages

Plot Summary

Charlie is a brilliant, introverted, troubled high school freshman who is an observer of life, both at home and school. He is too passive and just lets things happen to him. He meets Patrick and Sam who are brother and sister and falls madly in love with Sam (the sister). but does nothing about it. He goes to parties with the siblings and experiments with drugs and sex but none of it seems to affect him until he has a breakdown and remembers what happened to him with a favorite aunt.

Critical Evaluation

Told in a series of letters that Charlie is writing to an unnamed person, this book has developed a cult following and I can see why. Charlie is sensitively portrayed but we don't know why he's so troubled until near the end of the book. There are lots of literary, music and movie references that made me want to read, hear and see all of them. This was a fast read and an honest depiction of the kinds of things that go on in high school. This was one of the best young adult books that I've read. The character of Charlie stays with you long after you've finished the book.

Reader's Annotation

14-year-old Charlie is brilliant but almost sleep-walks his way through his first year of high school. What finally shakes him awake and out of his status as just an observer of life?

Author Info

Stephen Chbosky grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from USC's Filmic Writing Program. His first film, The Four Corners of Nowhere, won Best Narrative Feature honors at the Chicago Underground Film Festival. He lives in NY. The Perks of Being a Wallflower was his first novel and he is working on its screenplay.

Genre

YA coming-of-age

Curriculum Ties

would be excellent but probably too controversial for a Life Skills or English class

Booktalking Ideas

1. Charlie takes his sister to get an abortion.

2. Charlie goes over to his favorite teacher's home for lunch.

Reading/Interest Level

High School and College for both - would be inappropriate for under 14

Challenge Issues and Defense

Many, including homosexuality, sex, suicide, child sexual abuse, drugs

Sensitive portrayal of a shy and troubled teen. The author has received letters from teens who chose not to commit suicide after reading his book.

Why I Included This Book

Perfect book for our presentation on controversial YA literature as it is on the ALA's list of top 10 banned/challenged books. Highly recommended by the library staff where I work.