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Original Essays | April 16, 2013

Urban Waite: IMG The Dark Side

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Every night after I finish work, I sit down to write this essay, and every night I fail. And failure, believe it or not, is one of the best things... Continue »
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower Cover

ISBN13: 9780671027346
ISBN10: 0671027344
Condition: Standard
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Reading Group Guide

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

By Stephen Chbosky

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Charlie wants to remain anonymous? Have there been times when you wish you could have, or did?

2. Would you be friends with Charlie? Why or why not?

3. What do we learn about Michael? Do you sympathize with Charlie's reaction?

4. What do you think about Susan's relationship with her boyfriend? When Charlie tells Bill, did you think Bill would call his parents? Do you think that was the right thing to do? What do you think of her parent's reaction?

5. Discuss Charlie's reaction to his brother and sister throwing a party. What did you think about the couple in his room? What about Charlie's response?

6. What do you think being a wallflower is? Do you agree with Bob's definition?

7. How do you feel about Patrick and Brad's relationship? Do you think Patrick is understanding of Brad's feelings? What chance at a relationship do they have? Do you think that you can have a 'true' relationship built on secrets?

8. Charlie mentions that his dad "had glory days once." What do you think Charlie's glory days will be? Do you think he is worried about not having any?

9. Discuss Charlie's family holidays. Are there elements that are universal to every family dynamic? Has anything about Charlie's family surprised you? Describe aunt Helen. What kind of person is she?

10. Talk about the mixed tapes in the story. Are you familiar with the songs and bands? Why do you think Charlie speaks about them so often?

11. Do you like that the story is told through letters? Do you feel you know the kind of person Charlie is? His friends and family?

12. Several important issues come up during the course of the book, ranging from molestation to drug use. How does Charlie deal with these? How have the issues affected his friends and family?

13. Charlie has a few breakdowns. Do you feel hopeful for him? How much of his past explains his present?

14. Charlie's friends are moving away at the end of the story. Where does this leave Charlie? Can he make new friends?

15. Bill is very supportive of Charlie. How does this affect Charlie?

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 67 comments:
shallgal, February 1, 2013 (view all comments by shallgal)
This book it lovely! I encourage people to read it before watching the movie, it's far better. The plot allows for real character depth, and the story is very original. I found myself falling in love with this novel every time I picked it up!
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Jacob Hoppenbrouwers, January 30, 2013 (view all comments by Jacob Hoppenbrouwers)
This is such a great book, and it is so easy to love the characters.
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Carole L Soden, January 19, 2013 (view all comments by Carole L Soden)
This book has caused great discussions among my students and in my middle school and high school classes because it deals with many of the same things that my students are dealing with. It's been a perfect draw for some of my reluctant readers, and the fact that it is now a movie
has added even more to our discussions as we debate which is better the book or the movie. (The book is winning hands down - Hooray!)
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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
Subject:
Literature-A to Z
Copyright:
1999
Edition Description:
B102
Series Volume:
98-105
Publication Date:
February 1999
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
224
Dimensions:
7 x 5 in 6.93 oz
Age Level:
12-17
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Related Subjects


Children's » Featured Titles
Featured Titles » Bestsellers
Featured Titles » General
Featured Titles » Literature
Fiction and Poetry » Literature » A to Z
Fiction and Poetry » Literature » Coming of Age
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Young Adult » Featured Titles
Young Adult » Fiction » Social Issues » Homosexuality
Young Adult » General

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Used Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$7.50 In Stock
Product details 224 pages MTV Books - English 9780671027346 Reviews:
"Staff Pick" by ,

This coming-of-age story absolutely shines. Charlie is your average teenager trying to navigate the treacherous waters of adolescence, yet he's so much more than that. Recognizing something special in Charlie, a teacher feeds him literature and tries to guide him into growth and maturity. Charlie has a bit more on his plate than he knows what to do with, however. Chbosky manages to dodge stereotypes while mining his characters for the real humanity underneath the surface. This tiny novella delivers a huge, heart-warming story. Teenage years have never seemed so poignant, nor so beautiful!

by Dianah
"Review" by , "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."
"Review" by , "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."
"Synopsis" by , A series of letters to an unknown correspondent reveals the coming-of-age trials of a high-schooler named Charlie.
"Synopsis" by , 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" by , 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.

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