SLIS 5420, Module #10: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

This week's topic: controversial and frequently challenged books! Of course, I am psyched! I live for boundary-pushing literature and laugh in the face of controversy! I've been waiting all semester to read The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and the day finally came! The movie is coming out soon, so the timing couldn't be more right!

Summary

Charlie, a freshman in high school, has never had many friends. He's awkward- a wallflower or "non-participant" if you will. but when he's urged to "participate" by his two new friends, senior brother and sister, Sam and Patrick, Charlie begins to discover what high school, friendships, and life is all about.

Charlie soon finds himself hanging at parties, experimenting a bit with drugs and alcohol, and even dating. Despite his social success, Charlie still remains "different" from his peers. So, when his longtime crush (and best friend) gets cheated on by her boyfriend and makes a move on Charlie, it's no surprise that he can't handle going past second base with her. What is a surprise however, is what memories are triggered as a result of his make-out session, which might explain why Charlie is who he is.  Packed with drama, comedy, and a little Rocky Horror, Charlie's freshman year is one he (and readers) will never forget.

My thoughts

By now, you know how much I love young adult realistic fiction- and The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the genre at it's finest. I always love stories written by the "underdog" and let's face it, Charlie is the underdog. I also appreciate Chbosky's stylistic choice to format the text as a series of letters written to a "friend," whom Charlie has never met- but, I have to admit, I'd love to know who Charlie's friend is! I am keeping my fingers crossed that the movie is as good as the book!

What have others said?

From Time (1999):

Charlie has issues. His favorite aunt passed away, and his best friend just committed suicide. The girl he loves wants him as a friend; a girl he does not love wants him as a lover. His 18-year-old sister is pregnant. The LSD he took is not sitting well. And he has a math quiz looming. Charlie is the high school freshman protagonist of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky, a 29-year-old screenwriter. Published by MTV, it is one of a new generation of novels geared toward teenagers, for whom such subjects are increasingly just part of growing up.

 And, more from Time (1999):

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is presented as a collection of letters the narrator has written to an unspecified recipient. Nearing the end of his freshman year, Charlie realizes what he likes about a certain book, and his description serves to explain the appeal of his own narrative: "It wasn't like you had to really search for the philosophy. It was pretty straightforward, I thought, and the great part is that I took what the author wrote about and put it in terms of my own life."

Some ideas for the library or classroom

Interestingly, The Perks of Being a Wallflower appeared on my reading list under "frequently challenged texts." I get it- the issues touched on are intense, from experimenting with drugs to sexual abuse, the book doesn't shy away from controversy. However, the book most certainly has a place in the library! High schoolers are likely to gravitate toward this book- so what better of an idea to celebrate "Banned Books Month" with a display of this "frequently challenged text?"
From the style, to the themes of acceptance and friendship, The Perks of Being a Wallflower will work as a novel study for high school students. One prompt I'd find particularly interesting to discuss with a classroom: Charlie gains popularity and acceptance from his peers by "participating"- in drug use, drinking, attending parties and by making many other risky choices. If Charlie had refused to "participate" in these activities, would Sam, Patrick, and his other friends accept him for the literature loving guy he is?

References

Chbosky, S. (1999). The Perks of Being a Wallflower. New York, NY: Gallery Books.

Goldsmith, F. (1999). [Review of the book, The perks of being a wallflower by Stephen Chboksy]. School Library Journal, 45(6), 126.

Spitz, D. (1999). [Review of the book, The perks of being a wallflower by Stephen Chbosky]. Time, 154(3), 79.