by jordanSPYCHALSKI, ’15
Best-selling author Stephen Chbosky is popular among teenagers and young adults because of his fiction book The Perks of Being a Wallflower which was released February 1st, 1999, although with it’s complimenting movie being released late 2012, the book made a huge comeback and is popular among teens. From suicide notes, to acid, to finding first love, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a tear-jerking novel that’s nearly impossible to put down.
The story focuses on a teenage boy named Charlie, and his journey through his first year of high school. Charlie suffers from depression and has a hard time talking to people, so when he makes his first real friends, Sam and Patrick. The story-line is very solid and captures the struggles that come with being a high school student–such as losing a best-friend or learning how to be a better person.
There are a large variety of personalities, and Chbosky was able to really develop relationships between characters. Some start to change, and it’s similar to watching someone grow up the way Chbosky captures the essence of every emotion. Like Charlie’s first girlfriend, or when he finally shares his feelings with Sam. Throughout the book, Charlie changes from an innocent young boy, into someone who has found love, tried drugs, and faced the fears and issues that had tormented him for years. The struggles Charlie faces related to his family are accurately portrayed because many high schoolers will also feel that same pain.
The way Chbosky writes makes Perks of Being a Wallflower more suitable for young adults, because of the concepts and mature wording. The format of the book varies between internal conversation, letters, and dialogue–keeping interest throughout the story.
Overall, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a must-read for book fanatics, and young adults who are looking for a more real and honest perspective about mental illness and life in general.