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5 Beaverton Literature- A to Z


The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

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.

This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative new voice in contemporary fiction: The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.

Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.

Review:

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower is part of an MTV Books series that targets teen-age readers. But it is more mature than most young adult literature and can be enjoyed by older readers as well." Denise Kersten, USA Today

Review:

"Charlie develops from an observant wallflower into his own man of action, and, with the help of a therapist, he begins to face the sexual abuse he had experienced as a child. This report on his life will engage teen readers for years to come." School Library Journal

Synopsis:

A series of letters to an unknown correspondent reveals the coming-of-age trials of a high-schooler named Charlie.

Synopsis:

Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie is navigating through the strange worlds of love, drugs, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and dealing with the loss of a good friend and his favorite aunt.

Synopsis:

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.

This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative new voice in contemporary fiction: The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.

Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 46 comments:
miss maya, May 6, 2009 (view all comments by miss maya)
i declared this my favorite book before i even finished reading it. i love how it is told in letters. chbosky created such a realistic main character with charlie that i felt like he was a best friend. i've never been able to relate to a character in a book like this before. this book changed my life. i definitely recomend it.
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(4 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
katie_mae9301, April 30, 2009 (view all comments by katie_mae9301)
This book is a wonderful coming of age tell of a young teen and his life, and all the new experiences that change and shape his upcoming years. There's a lot of humor and very meaningful writing throughout the entire book. I could really relate as an awkward new teen and I recommend this book to anyone...
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(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
tmak, March 27, 2009 (view all comments by tmak)
This is such a great book :) I really enjoyed the form of letters that Stephen Chbosky did. The Perks of Being a Wallflower really inspired me. I love how the ending makes you think..like wait, what just happened? It's a great book! :)
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(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
View all 46 comments

Product Details

ISBN:
9780671027346
Author:
Chbosky, Stephen
Publisher:
MTV Books
Location:
New York :
Subject:
General
Subject:
Fiction
Subject:
Friendship
Subject:
Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General
Subject:
Social Situations - Adolescence
Subject:
Schools
Subject:
Teenagers
Subject:
Conduct of life
Subject:
High school students
Subject:
Epistolary fiction
Subject:
General Fiction
Subject:
Bildungsromans
Subject:
General Fiction
Copyright:
Edition Description:
B102
Series Volume:
98-105
Publication Date:
February 1999
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Yes
Pages:
256
Dimensions:
7.14x5.06x.49 in. .43 lbs.
Age Level:
12-17

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