Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stehpen Chbosky
MTV Books
1999

You may remember that this is the book some NY parents were objecting to when it appeared on a summer reading list. The list was designed to encourage school kids to read outside of mandatory assignments in hopes they would become lifelong readers. The school officials picked this book specifically because it was already quite popular with school kids and was a quick read.

Parents objected, according to an NYTIMES article, because the main character witnesses a date rape. He later is bothered by memories of the rape and the fact that he did nothing to intervene.

This is indeed a quick read. It takes the form of letters written by the main character to an unknown person. You aren't sure what the main character's name is because he is clear that he intentionally is "changing" names of people because he doesn't want the letter recipient to figure out who he is. I suspect that he is writing to a minister.

His story chronicles his first year of high school. He is one of those kids who is smart but feels disconnected from his peers. He has an intact family, and even though he feels somewhat disconnected from them, they are a good family. He is the youngest child.

I don't quite understand why the parents' groups are objecting to the book based on the date rape. I suspect because they stopped reading there. The main character chronicles drug and alcohol use and abuse, sex, homosexual sex, anonymous homosexual sex, sexual abuse, dating violence, abortion, and mental illness in himself and his friends and siblings. This felt like a more modern version of FastTimes at Ridgemont High.

While reading this book, I thought to myself that the author has teenager down. I really felt like I was getting a pretty true glimpse into the inner world of a teen. There are ups and downs. He often downplays the good stuff in his life. He is as confused as to his place in his community - as well as his changing role as any kid experiences.

I especially appreciate the voice of this book being male. There are a lot of good messages for all kids, but especially boys and men in this book. I appreciate that the male character has vulnerabilities and isn't portrayed as a jock or a slacker.

I would recommend this book to adults and teens. I know a good number of parents are going to wish they could protect their children from some of the content - however, I feel that the book is so true to the teen experience that you could randomly select 100 kids from any public high school in the country - and 75% of them would be able to tell you stories about all those issues that would curl your toes even more than what's in this book.