Title: The Perks of Being a WallflowerAuthor: Steven Chobsky
Publish Date: February 1999
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
Pages: 224pp
IBSN: 0671027344
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range: 13 and up
Price: $14.00
Amazon: $10.08
Annotation: Charlie is about to begin his freshman year in high school. He has many fears, as he is somewhat of a loner. Writing letters to a “friend” help him chronicle his life experiences.
Summary: Charlie is about to begin his freshman year in high school. He has many fears, as he is somewhat of a loner. Writing letters to a “friend” helps him chronicle his life experiences. From losing a friend to suicide to gaining a handful of friends who are all seniors, Charlie’s letters continue through the school year, recording his friendships, high school life, mental issues, and ongoing battle to emerge from passivity and actively engage with the world.
Evaluation: A truly inspiring and compelling novel about growing up. Charlie, the protagonist is easily relatable as he narrates his thoughts and feelings. His story and experiences rang true and pulled me back in my wallflower days in high school. Subjects such as: sex, drugs, and abuse, were presented in a realistic manner. I LOVED this book, could hardly put it down once I started reading it. Go MTV for promoting this book! Truly a teen classic.
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness:
- Being a “wallflower.”
- Experiencing big life moments for the first time.
- Falling in love.
- Being scared of love.
- Being scared of being alone.
- Suffering from a traumatic experience.
- Molestation
Reason this book was chosen: It came as a recommendation from a good friend who said, “it’s our generation’s version of the Catcher and the Rye.” This is one of FAVORITE YA books. Maybe it was my connection to the time period--the Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Smiths, being infinite, I whole heartedly fell into Charlie’s story about his freshman year of high school. This book deals with a gamut of issues: friendships, homosexuality, sex, drugs, death, fighting,
Similar Titles:
Awards:
ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2000
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, 2000
