The Perks of Being a Wallflower

1999

by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a young adult coming-of-age novel by American writer Stephen Chbosky. Set in the early 1990s, the novel follows Charlie, an introverted observing teenager, through his freshman year of high school in a Pittsburgh suburb. The novel details Charlie's unconventional style of thinking as he navigates between the worlds of adolescence and adulthood, and attempts to deal with poignant questions spurred by his interactions with both his friends and family.

The story is presented in a series of letters that Charlie writes to an unnamed friend, and these documents chronicle his trials, tribulations, and triumphs as he goes through his first year of high school. Charlie's journey is one of self-discovery and growth, and the book deftly explores themes of mental health, romance, and the intense emotions associated with the teenage years. Through Charlie's experiences, the reader is drawn into the tumultuous world of first dates, family dramas, and new friendships, as well as the more serious issues of sex, drugs, and personal loss.

3.5 Stars
2 readers
Suggest edits

Reviews

Review by fmbran
Likeless so far. Lead the way
0 comments
Review by catpow3r
It's really sweet. I don't like the way it's written (not because i think its badly written, but because it's very simple and plain) but I like the characters and the story. I think that everyone in high school should read it. It would have been my favorite in high school. I also think that this paragraph sounds a bit like Charlie and that I can't get his voice out of my head. The movie is way better.
Likeless so far. Lead the way
0 comments

Are you sure you want to delete this?