LS 5623: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. New York: MTV Books, 2014. Print.

2.     PLOT SUMMARY
Charlie enters his sophomore year of high school in this coming-of-age story. Charlie is very emotionally sensitive and cries easily but has deep insights on the feelings of those around him. He meets Patrick and Sam who introduce him to a group of voluntary outcasts who bring him into their circle. It’s a very honest book and discusses topics like rape, masturbation, and homosexuality. It’s been on the top of the banned book list for years because of those topics, but it handles them with honesty and in a plain manner.

3.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS characters, plot, setting, theme, style, authenticity

Perks of Being a Wallflower is a very honest novel. The reader feels the heartbreak that pervades adolescence. Even though Charlie is not a typical teenager, readers will relate to his struggles from dealing with crushes to the awkward missteps in social niceties and conversation.

Like Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, this book is also written more informally and done almost conversationally. It’s written as casual letters to a “friend”, and his writing noticeably improves as Charlie practices his writing. He often talks directly to the reader and asks questions to them, involving them in the writing.

The characters all have distinct personalities, making them all easy to remember despite the numerous side characters in the story.

4.     CREATIVE ACTIVITY

Writing Activity: have the students write a letter to a nameless friend asking advice in something they are having trouble with in their own life.

5.     RELATED RESOURCES

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the movie.

6.     PUBLISHED REVIEW 

Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Review: Perks of Being a Wallflower. Kirkus Reviews. 1999. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/stephen-chbosky/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower/