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By Allison Custer
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky is a coming of age novel that follows Charlie throughout his freshman year of high school and his experiences making new friends as he navigates first dates, sex, drugs, family drama, and mental illness. Charlie’s story is told through a series of letters written to a stranger which document Charlie’s attempts to “participate” in his first year of high school. Throughout the novel, Charlie is caught between standing on the sidelines observing others from afar and stepping into the spotlight appreciating his life for what it is.
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is a short read, but it packs a powerful punch, dealing with heavy subject matter including suicide and sexual abuse which feature heavily in the plot of this book, so while I would absolutely recommend this book to other older teenagers and young adults, I feel it is necessary to address a trigger warning. That being said, I thought this book was very unique and engaging. I enjoyed reading about the diverse cast of characters and thought each of them were very well-developed and relatable. One character I really connected with was Charlie’s friend, Patrick. When Charlie first meets Patrick, he seems very lighthearted and spontaneous. However, he struggles internally with feelings of depression, and leans on Charlie for emotional support.
The writing style also adds to this book’s distinctiveness. Chbosky’s choice to tell Charlie’s story through a series of letters works really well in my opinion. It draws the reader into Charlie’s perspective and allows them to imagine themselves as a part of the story. While it may not be other people’s preference, it sets this book apart from other popular books in similar genres.
Some people who disliked Chbosky’s writing style in this book said the letters lack nuance, and often times Charlie rambles and goes on tangents. While others might see this as lazy writing, I actually think this is an accurate representation of what it feels like to grow up with mental health issues and learning to tackle them head on. Charlie doesn’t have all the answers which is why he is writing to the reader in the first place. This book challenges the reader to think about how they would respond to the situations Charlie is put in and what advice, if any, would they give him.
Charlie’s journey of self-discovery throughout this novel is very profound and inspiring, and his story illustrates the beauty of finding hope again after devastation and trauma. Although the contents of this book can be intense at times, it is an overall uplifting story that speaks to anyone who has ever struggled to fit in.
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