The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
This book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, is a "Catcher in the Rye" inspired story. It is written in first-person by a high school freshman named Charlie. The book consists of letters written to an anonymous person. When the story begins Charlie keeps to himself more and not many people know him. Charlie is a "wallflower" who, with the help of his newly found friends Samantha and Patrick, learns to interact with the world. At some moments, this book put me in a place of euphoria. It is amazingly written and I recommend it to absolutely everyone. -Reviewed by Jackie, grade 9.
Comments
The book is just amazing. It is slightly different from the movie though. Every sentence makes sense in that book. Every detail is perfect. I would recommend this book to everyone. Age and gender don't matter. Everybody will enjoy the book. Oh! And don't forget to watch the movie after!
Reviewed by Iren, grade 9.
Central Library
This book is absolutely fantastic. It can basically relate to any teenager out there. This book is actually one of my favorites because I relate so much to it. It made me really think about growing up and brought me back to those rollercoaster days. I really enjoyed this book and im sure anyone else who read this book has too. This novel is perfect for any teenager. Not only is it relatable, but it also is funny and triggers all of your emotions. If you're going to the library or the book store, I definitely recommend this book to anyone.
Reviewed BY: Emily R., Grade: 9
Montrose Crescenta Branch Library
I personally give this book two thumbs up. This book is one of the few books i could not put down. I am not a reader but this book was so emotional and well written I loved it. One thing I really enjoyed about this book was that a lot of people could relate to his character and the characters of his friends. Moving to a new school is hard and Charlie went through that and wrote how his year was. This book made an impact on my life because it deals with the hardship of high school but also shows that it will be the best four years of your life. If you are into dramatic, cliff hanging books I recommend this book for you. I promise this book will not let you down. After reading the book you and your friends can watch the movie to this New York Times Bestseller book.
Reviewed by Karissa L., grade 9
Montrose Branch Library
I loved this book but then at the same time it was just okay. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I am finally secure with who I am but in high school that wasn’t entirely true. If I would have read this book in high school I think I would be absolutely in love with it because of the fact, that probably, like most of us at one point in our teens, I felt like an outsider like Charlie. Without my closest friends around me I was a definite “wallflower,” the insecure, quite, girl who would rather blend in then be seen. As I’m thinking about it now I think that is what was hard about this book for me at points it reminded me of who I was in middle school and the beginning of high school and that is a person I would much rather leave in the past.
Reviewed by: Pamela Nicole Flores, grade 12
Glendale Central Library
The one quote that I liked while reading the book was "you expect the love you think you deserve." This quote was said because along the story Charlie begins to grow feelings for some girls, one including Sam. I personally liked this quote because it showed me that it's true. Sometimes you expect so much from something, not only love, that you think people will give it to you the way you think you deserve it. The book made me think a lot because at first I was scared of high school, but now I figured that I will find my group of friends there and have unforgettable experiences just like Charlie did.
Reviewed by Michelle G., grade 9
Montrose Crescenta Branch
I feel this book in an amazing read because it connects with so many people and shows that you can create your own adventure. It really had an affect on me and really showed me that no matter what you can have an extensive affect on your own path. From going out meeting new people to trying new things to try and find yourself as a person. because of this book I push myself in so many situations and I have gained so much from it.
Reviewed by Jonathan M., Grade 12
Montrose Library
The Perks of Being a Wallflower shows how hard life and school can be for an adolescent, especially for a kid who is getting over the death of his best friend. I believe that the readers will personally make many connections with Charlie and all the struggles he went through because most of it is very related to everyday life.This book teaches the reader that it’s not easy getting through bad memories and bad times, but someday, everything works itself out.
Reviewed by Initials, Grade 10
Glendale Central Library
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky follows Charlie's experience in high school as he writes letters to an un-named friend. He describes how he has become accustomed to school since his best friend committed suicide the year before. School is made easier for him when he meets Sam and Patrick, who then introduce Charlie to their group of friends and invite him to parties where Charlie begins to experiment with drugs and alcohol and romance. Charlie has to manage his love for Sam while dealing with traumatic experiences from his childhood.
Reviewed by Nayri T., Grade 11
Casa Verdugo Library
My opinion of The Perks of Being a Wallflower was how emotional it could be at times and I loved that. It showed how lonely and depressed Charlie was feeling and how it took over him. It had me crying at the end but smiling at other parts where things were going well for Charlie. I also really enjoyed how the story was written in letters unlike most stories. I would definitely recommend his book to one of my best friends because she would understand how Charlie was feeling and that would make her want to read this book. This would also have to be one of my all time favorite books.
Reviewed by Tina, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library
The first thing that caught my attention with this book is the way it is written. It isn't written in your standard form of a book. It is written in the format of letters to the reader. Each letter portrays a different point in Charlies life. I think this added alot of extra character to the book, it definitely made a good first impression on me after i saw the format of the writing! This novel is definitely a coming of age novel, and is mature enough for not only teens but young adults to enjoy it as well. The narrative view point of Charlie as an outsider fresh into high school is an easy outline to follow, but can also unravel a lot of emotional events. This book is a must have for me and the movie is amazing as well! I recommend this book to all people from teens to adults!
Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 12
Glendale Central Library
This book is honestly one of the greatest literary works I have every been lucky enough to read. It's brutally honest in how it portrays the characters feelings towards life, not to mention the sophisticated writing style of Stephen Chbosky. It's very surreal that the author was able to depict the life of a teenage boy so well, and as a girl who is the main character's age, I can connect to Charlie in countless ways. The Perks of Being a Wallflower made me feel less unusual in terms of some of the things I was feeling, because it gave me confirmation that I'm not alone in feeling these things. Other young readers would definitely benefit from reading this book.
Reviewed by Rima, Grade 8
Glendale Central Library
I loved the book so much that I wish I can jump into the book. The book really inspired me to write my own story. I recommend it to young adults who are starting a new beginning and a new school. I liked the format the author wrote it in, I was able to connect to Charlie and I felt Like I was that friend receiving those letters. I felt like the book was a roller coaster with its ups and downs in life. This really teaches people the lives some people may have and what young people go through as such a young age. Eventually we grow out of it but not all of us. You know the saying on how we never grow up, some people take it literally.
Reviewed by Andrea S., Grade 11
Glendale Central Library
I loved the story behind it. It was such a beautiful book with such a good message. I didn't like how Sam didn't want to be Charlie's girlfriend rather than being somebody else's when they know they were good for each other. I believe a lot of people would like this book because it shows lots of emotions and a real deep point. It made me feel real sad that Charlie tried to commit suicide because he was loved.
Reviewed by Felicia-Maria. Grade 12
Glendale Central Library
I connected with this book because I am currently a high school student and it is interesting to read about other high school students and their stories. Furthermore, I also keep a diary just like Charlie and record significant events that take place in my life. I recommend this book to high school students because the main character's life is also happening in high school. I also like how the language is easy to read like an original diary.
Reviewed by Siranush M., Grade 12
Glendale Central Library
The author was skilled at presenting Charlie as this socially-awkward, special boy who has a kind of invisible pull on the audience. Charlie’s innocence and naivetés is very uncommon for the average high school teenage boy, but seems to fit Charlie perfectly. This innocence of Charlie is what makes the audience reach out to him. The other characters are also interesting, such as Sam and Patrick. They befriend this strange freshman without any hesitation and treat him as an equal. The manner in which Charlie interacts with the other characters is also notable. Everyone seems to be at a distance with Charlie; he never sees them as people he can connect to a deep level, but as objects that he can study. Chbosky lets us explore Charlie’s mind where the thinking never stops. Charlie is constantly noticing details, examining people, and wondering about absolutely everything. It is a story where there are no good guys or bad guys: there are just people coping with the circumstances and going through the motions of life. That is what makes the book real despite its other unusual circumstances: that people are just people – not good, yet not bad. I must say that at times the book was boring, dragging and Charlie’s periodic breakdowns were becoming irritating. On a good note, I praise Chbosky for his clever way of writing the book as a collection of letters and referring to the audience as “dear friend”, connecting with them a deeper level. This book, to be better understood, should not be read in a rush, nor only once (as with many other classic coming-of-age books). This book goes to show that the quietest people often hide the darkest secrets.
Reviewed by Lilit, Grade 12
Grandview Library
I loved this book. For my age of 14, it did contain some things I did not even think 14 or 15-year-olds would do. But all in all, I think it gives an adequate insight of the teenage life, no matter what takes place. More specifically, I liked the format of the book. They weren't chapters, but letters in parts, written by our protagonist Charlie. I liked the development of several love stories between Charlie and 2 older girls. I think many would like this book, right as they get into high school. What I didn't like is the randomness and vulgar language. But maybe that's just me being innocent. I did not expect such vivid and visualizing sex scenes or the usage of marijuana so young. But the book helped me cope with my own stress and depression, and I cannot explain how much that helped me. It helped me persevere through a time of great adversity.
Reviewed by D.C., Grade 8
Pacific Park Library