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Part I: Bibliographic information
Type: Novel
Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Writer: Stephen Chbosky
Copyright Date: 1999
Publisher: Gallery Books, Simon & Schuster, Inc., (2012)
Edition: MTV Books/Gallery Books
ISBN: 978-0671027346
Genre/Subgenre: YA/Social issues
Interest Age: 13 - 19
Reading Level: Upper Grades (UG 9-12)
Wordcount:
Pages: 213
Awards: Not enough
Part I: Plot Summary, Critical Evaluation, Reader’s Annotation
Reader’s Annotation -- An introverted teenager named Charlie narrates the day-to-day details of his life in high school with humor and sensitivity. Charlie finds that while he is gifted there is also something different about him that touches on mental illness.
Plot summary -- Charlie, a shy ninth grader, describes the day that a suicide of one of his friend, Michael, is announced at school. Its said that he may have had “problems at home,” which made no sense to Charlie. His older brother is a star football player and comes to fetch him since he’s so upset. Soon his brother leaves for college, and his sister and him are the remaining siblings. She is older and thinks he’s weird. He describes his parents as leaving him along because he gets good grades -- and he’s in advanced placement English with an instructor he’s allowed to call by first name, “Bill.” Charlie likes to read and has a gift with language. Later Charlie tells Bill about an incident in which Charlie witnessed her sister being punched by her boyfriend, which causes a big family upset and makes his sister “hate” Charlie. Charlie has a crush on an older girls from school -- she tells him that he’s sweet but too young and to move on. About this time, he admits to experimenting with masterbating. His life continues as he mostly observes others rather than having many friends or involvements. His brother and sister through a big party while his parents are away -- most of the teens get too drunk and there’s a scene where a girl is forced to give oral sex on a boy that Charlie witnesses. Sam, the older girl he likes, and him are at a Homecoming game and they are joined by Patrick, who is having a secret relationship with a football star. He goes to an informal party with their friends, and he meets a few older high schoolers where he says no to a beer. He’s only freshman with little exposure to alcohol or drugs, and he eats a brownie at this party and has a very strange high. They make fun of him being high and give Sam makes him a milkshake. But he walks in on Patrick and Brad kissing -- and Patrick makes him swear to secrecy, which he does. The others deem him a ‘wallflower’ since he sits back and observes. Later, they go the Homecoming Dance and his sister is with the guy that hit her and not the guy who picked her up. He doesn’t dance. Part II: He learns more about Patrick and Brad and tries to make sense of why they hide their relationship. Later he decides to start writing after getting his first B in advanced English. He also discovers the Rocky Horror picture show. Patrick dress as Frankenfurter, and Sam plays Janet. He is still in love with Sam, who he idolizes. Sam is dating a boy named Craig, however -- he’s 21 and “hunky”. He also learns that his sister is serious about the guy who had hit her that once. His summer is boring but he reads -- Catcher in the Rye, One the Road and Naked Lunch -- all as recommended by his young English teacher Bill. He also gets his drivers permit. Later, he has a bad experience involving LSD and has to be temporarily hospitalized -- and he decided never to do that again. It’s a period of gloominess for him and he admits this is not the first time in his life that he’s had some depression. He starts seeing a psychiatrist and starts taking “medication.” After his favorite aunt died it was triggered. He does start smoking and hangs with his alternative friends who get him into “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. He ends up kissing Sam but she’s still with her boyfriend. He gets asked to the Sadie Hopkins Dance by different girl, Mary Elizabeth -- and the date goes okay but he’s confused by the dating thing because he loves Sam and does not feel ready for even a kiss. At some point, he finds his sister crying -- and she admits to him that she is pregnant -- and the boyfriend drops her and says it’s not his. She gets an abortion and Charlie helps cover for the day. He has another date with Mary Elizabeth and gets the ‘sex’ talk from his father who recommends him to wear protection and discusses not forcing her to do anything. The girl sets up a situation in her basement and they get involved sexually. But the fit is not great for Charlie but he’s too polite to say anything. They date for a time but he has constant doubts but finally uses a game of Truth or Dare to kiss Sam instead of Mary Elizabeth. He decides it’s important to be truthful but everyone get made with him. He feels terrible and confides in Patrick, his gay friend, who counsels him to keep away for awhile. He reads the E.E. Cummings book of poems had given him. He tries to talk to her but she’s says it’s too late. It also puts a rift in his relationship with his friend Sam because her boyfriend was upset about Charlie. He calls Bob, the stoner friend, and gets some pot to smoke. Brad’s father find out about Patrick and beats him relentlessly. Then a bad fight happens in the cafeteria between Patrick and Brad and his football friends after Brad calls him a ‘faggot’. Charlie comes to his aide and beats up a couple of football guys -- they all get suspended and, while in detention, Brad apologies. At some point the story becomes mostly about the graduation of his friends, who are mostly seniors. Sam, Patrick, his sister, Brad are all seniors. The Prom is a big drama as Sam breaks up with Craig after his friend makes him admit to his cheating. This raises Charlie’s hopes but ultimately he realises she’s headed to Penn State, where his brother goes, and they agree to stay in touch. His teacher who gives him the extra books to reads tells him how “special” he thinks Charlie is -- meaning that he is very smart and gifted. Lots of memories are shared -- and they realize how unique his bond with this brother and sister is.
Critical Evaluation -- The entire book is written in a series of notes to, “Dear Friend.” He uses this as a way to say the many things he thinks but doesn’t tell others. This captures the feeling of teen angst perfectly. The year is 1992, and Charlie, a sensitive 15-year-old, writes his candid observations about life and family with utter candor. His demeanor is of a innocent, shelter adolescent but who encounters experiences head on -- and experience will not let him observe innocently. He’s introduced to music, drugs and sex in this critical year of his life. And, it does not always go smoothly. Clearly, Charlie is very different than others -- he questions the obvious and challenges himself to be more thoughtful. For instance, his ideal girl will be pretty in an unconventional way. So the story is one that explores the experience of someone that is not innocent.
The story is filled with some very candid accounts of life as a teen. It reminds me of Catcher in the Rye in that Charlie’s reaction to the world is one that questions the assumed, and he’s often appalled by “normal” behaviors. He wonders why we are the way we are and, by listening and observing carefully, he starts to figure it out. Charlie is not quite as cynical as Holden, thankfully. And, he becomes the rock for some of his older friends, family and acquaintances, who have various crises ranging from break up to pregnancy. The theme is really on of introspection being the key to making human connections that are meaningful and lasting. Charlie reflects -- as he is the ‘wallflower’ -- and he stays true to himself rather than trying to comply. Even his reflections on his family are filled with realistic and cathartic observations about their struggles and oddities. His grandfather is a great example -- he’s a drinker who usually embarrasses them with his harshness. But they learn to respect him for having spent years working in a mill and swearing his kids would have a better chance at life. It’s a moving celebration of the trials and tribulation of the coming-of-age experience from the perspective of an ordinary high schooler. In the end, he gets a lecture from Sam about letting people stomp on him and not being honest due to his being too nice. She wants him to not think of her that way -- she does not want to be his crush because it’s too behind the scene. She wants him to be who he is and to act on his thoughts -- and then he kisses her and they start making love. But then he has to go. And it triggers a bad episode where he apparently has a break with reality of sorts. He sums up his thoughts of this letter he sends to a random person he thinks will listen. In the epilogue, he figures out that he’s witnessed some violence as a young child that was repressed and the a female doctor help him work out some of the mental consequences. Everyone comes together in the family to support him -- and he gets visits from Patrick.
Part III: Author Info
Stephen Chbosky is a successful novelist, playright and producer, whose book The Perks of Being a Wallflower was his breakthrough achievement. He is from Pittsbugh and came of age in the late 1980s, an era that is heavily reflected in his work. He has lived and worked in Los Angeles more recently. Chbosy has also been a supporter of gay rights, and his books have themes that caste gays in a positive light.
Part IV: Curriculum Ties, Diversity, Booktalk Ideas, Challenge Issues
Curriculum Ties, if any -- This coming-of-age novel would be highly appropriate for a English literature class that hopes to teach some more current and accessible works to young people. It’s candidness and forthright content reflects the real experience of teens today -- and it explores the themes of individuality, responsibility and hope for the future.
Diversity of Cultures -- The main cultural themes in this book relate to the issues of homosexuality as Patrick and his relationship with Brad is an important subplot in the story. The other issue that it brings up is mental health as Charlie has some signs of some breaks with reality. It comes at some fairly unexpected times.
Booktalking Ideas -- The role of music in this novel is significant. Charlie makes mixed tapes for his friends and thinks about what to include and why it means something to him. I think a good book talk would be to explore what music is discussed and try to relate it to what music is popular today and why. This avoids some of the heavy themes in the book but allows the deeper meaning the novel conveys to be explored.
Challenge Issues -- The novel has been challenged in numerous settings for the content that includes use of drugs and alcohol and homosexuality. Statistically,
Part V: Reasons chosen
This novel is a thunderbold amongst a lot of others YA literature. It’s not about any one aspect such as suicide or drugs. It’s a fuller story about life and difficulties. And, the Charlie character is truly memorable. He faces some pretty heavy experiences and the reflections on them are powerful in that he’s able to hone in on the meaning and that which cannot be understood. And, the dynamics of the family are another aspect that’s easy to identify with. His parents are not horrible -- and, in fact, he finds the good in them more than the bad. This is refreshing in that we often don’t get a fuller sense of who the parents are and why -- disappointment, tragedy and chance all play a role in our lives, and Charlie learns to look for the lessons and the positive in some of these circumstances by “putting things in perspective” as he says. But he also wants to be -- and to live his life -- and so that’s what we are left with in the end. He feels himself again for the time being and he takes comfort in the simple things like their visits to the Big Boy and listening to music. I think this work has a great deal of integrity and does not hold back for want of playing it safe. Chbosky puts it all out there for us -- to judge or not to judge. And, as a result, it will be one of the enduring YA coming-of-age novels for decades.
Part VI: Citations
The perks of being a wallflower review [webpage]. (n.d.). Common Sense Media. Retrieved from http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower
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