The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Review by Margaret

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky-YA Contemporary

Paperback given by MTV Books for review-Thank you!

Guest Review done by Margaret

standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective…but there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor. Since its publication, Stephen Chbosky’s haunting debut novel has received critical acclaim, provoked discussion and debate, grown into a cult phenomenon with over a million copies in print, and inspired a major motion picture.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a story about what it’s like to travel that strange course through the uncharted territory of high school. the world of first dates, family dramas, and new friends. of sex, drugs, and the rocky horror picture show. of those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

Margaret's Take:

I liked this book. The well-developed characters are real people that I came to know and like. The story unfolds as Charlie, the main character, writes a series of letters to someone the reader knows only as Dear friend. The letters gave me the feeling that I was stepping into Charlie’s private world. I got to know Charlie, his family, and his friends and saw the world through his eyes. 
Charlie is a sensitive, intelligent, and creative 15 year old high school freshman. He sees beauty in everyday objects and experiences and describes them so the reader feels it also. Yet Charlie is also troubled. He is a social misfit at school. His emotions are sometimes extreme and excessive. The suicide of his best friend, loss of a beloved aunt, and his brother leaving for college affect him deeply. 
Charlie’s friendship with two seniors – Patrick and Patrick’s stepsister Sam – helps to change his life. He learns a lot about friendship, love, and being who you really are. Without giving away too much of the story I can say that Charlie comes to understand what real love is and the frailty that is part of being human. 

Caution – This book contains matures themes.

Thank you for the review Margaret!