First published in the late 90’s, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is a coming-of-age story about an naïve teen who goes by the alias “Charlie.” Kidzworld has the book review.
Coming-of-age Story
“Charlie” is a very unusual teen. He’s a prolific reader who always reads books twice in a row. After his best friend commits suicide, he’s left friendless until he meets high school seniors Sam and Patrick. Charlie immediately falls in love with Sam, though she claims she’s too old to date him. Sam’s brother Patrick is gay, and is hiding a secret relationship with a popular member of the football team.
Letters to You
Chbosky formats the book as if Charlie were retelling his first year of high school in a series of anonymous letters written to the reader. During the year, Charlie deals with many challenges teenagers face - love and loss, drugs and drinking, parties and school, his first girlfriend and a gay best friend.
The Bottom Line
Even though it was published in the late 90s, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a fantastic book for any teen to read. The technology may have been different but the teenage issues are still very relatable. Charlie is a naïve, pathetic, and lovable protagonist that is more prone to tear shed than a 4-year-old girl, but that just makes him all the more interesting.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower Movie
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is becoming a movie, which is set to release in September 2012. The film will star Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) as Charlie, and Emma Watson (Harry Potter) as Sam.
Have Your Say
Did you like the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky? Tell us in our comment section below.
