The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. 1999. 213p. ISBN 978-0-671-02734-6. Available at FIC CHB on the library shelves.

As a freshman in high school, Charlie does not stand out. He is neither popular nor at the bottom of the social ladder. He’s smart, but not smart enough to be on honor roll. He’s not the biggest geek, clown, or any other role played by students. He’s a nobody, and he does not mind at all not being visible to the rest of the high school crowd.

Socially awkward, Charlie manages to make a few friends during a football game. He meets seniors Patrick and his sister Sam, and immediately falls hopelessly in love with Sam. Suffering from depression and low self-esteem, Charlie is not sure what his new friends see in him, but as the relationship grows Charlie begins to sail through unknown territory. He has his first date. He lives through Patrick’s intense dramas. He discovers sex, drugs, and the Rocky Horror Picture Show. But through it all, Charlie begins to immerse himself in his own life. Unfortunately, living sometimes means being front and center…

Told in the form of letter Charlie writes to an unknown narrator, this coming-of-age story will strike a cord with everyone who’s ever stood on the sidelines of life.