The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Author: Stephen Chbosky

ISBN: 9780671027344

Publisher: MTV Books

Copyright: 1999

Genre: Fiction

Age Range: 15+

Reader’s Annotation: Fifteen year old Charlie retells his first year in high school.

Plot Summary: Charlie, fifteen year old boy, writes letters to an unknown person about his first about his first year in high school while dealing the two traumatic deaths in his life. The first was the suicide of his only friend in middle school, and the second is the death of his favorite aunt Helen during his childhood. Charlie's English teacher acknowledges Charlie's passion for reading and writing and assigns him additional books and reports. Charlie is considered a wallflower. He makes the perfect companion for two lively seniors, Patrick and Sam. Patrick is dating a football player who is still in the closet. Sam is a bit more normal and has a regular boyfriend. Charlie is totally attracted to her but tries to deny it. He is absorbed into their circle of friends. He tries drugs, drinks alcohol, and even starts smoking cigarettes. With a new set of friends, he is able to control once violent flashbacks he had of his aunt Helen who died in a car crash while getting him a birthday gift.

            When Charlie admits to never being kissed, Sam give him one. A girl in Sam and Patrick’s circle of friends, Mary Elizabeth, asks Charlie to the Sadie Hawkins dance. He reluctantly participates in the relationship but hates how one sided the relationship is. During a game of truth or dare, he is dared to kiss the prettiest girl in the room. He kisses Sam causing Mary Elizabeth to storm out of the room. Patrick recommends that Charlie hold back from Sam for a while. He feels rejection that brings back the debilitating flashbacks. He starts seeing a psychiatrist.

            During this time, Patrick and Brad's relationship is found out by Brad's abusive dad. During lunch at school, football players heckle Patrick even getting Brad to call him a "faggot.” This infuriates Patrick and he attacks Brad. Patrick is almost ganged up on by the football players until Charlie is able to calm down the situation. This wins brownie points with Sam. Patrick and Charlie go to a park known for gay sexual activity. Patrick kisses Charlie and apologizes. Charlie understands that he is in recovery from Brad. Soon, Patrick and Sam will be leaving high school and going to college. Charlie has to send his friends off and the social life that stabilized his mental state. What will happen to him when they are gone?

Critical Evaluation: The Perks of Being a Wallflower has won a few awards including the 2000 ALA Best Books for Young Adults award, 2000 ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers award, and the 2002 ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults award. The book has often been compared to J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye because it takes a character that seems to have a few inherent problems that he is dealing with and puts them through a few situations that makes them question what life is really about. The author Chbosky denies making a Caulfield like character stating that Charlie has his own unique problems and perspectives that makes his character separate. Charlie’s main problem might be letting himself get treated badly. The book explores every facet of that line of thought as Charlie explores his relationships with Sam and Patrick. Because of the different plot lines of abuse, sex, drugs, alcohol, and homosexuality, this has been one of the most challenged book. It has appeared on the American Library Association's list of the 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books six times in the past decade. While some parents have tried to ban the book based on its subject matter, there have been many libraries and school boards that have upheld it as an important book for teens to read to see the consequences of certain teen activities without having to do it themselves.

Author Information: Stephen Chbosky wrote and directed the feature film adaptation of his novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he graduated from the University of Southern California’s Filmic Writing Program. His first film, The Four Corners of Nowhere, premiered at Sundance Film Festival. He wrote the screenplay for the critically acclaimed film adaptation of Rent; and co-created the post-apocalyptic television drama, Jericho. He also edited Pieces, a collection of short stories for Pocket Books. Source - http://authors.simonandschuster.com/stephen-chbosky/1843916

Curriculum Ties:

Challenge Issues: Underaged Drinking; Language; Sexual Abuse; Drug Use; Sexuality

Booktalk Ideas: One can talk about all of the different, typical high school activities and lead into the book by relating Charlie to the teens.