It’s Banned Books Week! Have you read anything banned lately? You might be surprised. Visit Sheila at Book Journey for giveaways and discussion of banned books.
If you’ve heard anything about the novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, then you won’t be surprised it was one of the most frequently challenged books of 2013. Wallflower shares this distinction with The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, The Hunger Games, Looking for Alaska, Bone, and Captain Underpants, among others. (Go to the American Library Association site for more lists.)
Word nerd note: If a book is challenged, it means that an individual or group has requested to remove a book from a school curriculum or library or a public library. If a book is banned, that means it has been removed. The American Library Association gathers statistics about challenges and bans.
Yes, The Perks of Being a Wallflower has controversial content, including homosexuality, rape, abortion, drug use, suicide, and sexual abuse.
But, there’s also good introspection. The characters make some bad choices, but they also face hard consequences for their decisions.
The Premise
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a series of letters that fifteen year old Charlie writes to a “friend”. We never know who, just that Charlie trusts him or her based on a conversation he overheard. Charlie prefers writing letters to a diary because “a diary can be found.”
It’s August 1991, and Charlie anxiously awaits his freshman year of high school. His best friend committed suicide at the end of eighth grade, and his older brother is leaving to play football at Penn State. Charlie has never had lots of friends, and many people consider him a “freak”, so he worries about how to fit in. He meets two seniors who offer genuine friendship, but also expose Charlie to difficult issues.
What I Liked
I love Charlie. He’s kind, intelligent, and accepting, although sometimes too accepting, which gets him into trouble. His friend Patrick says to him, “You see things,… and you understand.” Charlie thinks A LOT, but he’s also naive about sex and drugs. He gets himself into awkward situations.
Although things get bleak for Charlie, by the end of the book, he figures things out. He stops being such a “wallflower” and starts to “really be there.”
In one of his last letters, he says:
But even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there.
There are lots of great lines like this.
Charlie compiles an awesome mix tape for his friend Patrick, including songs like Landslide, Blackbird, and Smells Like Teen Spirit. I will make a “Wallflower” playlist for my iPod soon.
What I didn’t like
Almost every character has a dysfunctional issue to deal with, and at times Charlie’s world feels exceptionally dark. And, I wish the book didn’t have quite as much drug use or one particularly explicit scene.
Recommendation
Overall, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a thoughtful book that addresses many issues that teenagers face. I’m willing to put up with the edgy content because most of the characters are compelling and real, and the book honestly addresses difficult issues.
When my kids read it, we’ll have lots to discuss.
I listened to the audiobook of Perks, and it’s very well done.
Have you read The Perks of Being a Wallflower? What did you think? How do you decide if controversial content is “worthwhile” in a book?
In honor of Banned Books Week, I’m giving away a Barnes and Noble gift card to one lucky reader who leaves a comment on this post. Enter by Friday, October 3, 2014, to win.
Remember to visit Sheila at Book Journey for links to more discussion and reviews about banned books.
Julia
it wasn’t really clear to me but what was charlies favorite song
I’m not sure. I’ll have to check the book. He mentions “Blackbird” a lot, but I think that was one of Sam’s favorites.
What frustrates me, as a homosexual teenage girl, is that “homosexuality” is apparently “bad.”
To me, that feels like someone banning a book because a woman is in it.
Way to mute out the lgbt community.
I loved this book. Favorite book, actually, and not just because of Patrick. I’ve been through almost everything Charlie’s been through, I felt really happy, knowing the author must understand things that I go through…When no on relates.
I’m glad you found a novel that lets you know that you’re not the only one who feels the way you do- that is one of the best things about books. They help us connect. And Charlie narrates Perks without passing judgement on the people in his life, which is a refreshing change from our often critical society.
This book is now on my list!! Thanks for the insights. Working with teenagers every day, I’m always looking for resources and books that might speak to them. Thanks!
You’re welcome Gretchen! I’m glad you found it useful. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
This is one of my favorite books. There’s a lot of controversy in it, yes, but it serves a purpose. All of Charlie’s mishaps, his interactions with his friends, and the emotional struggles he has show how the teenage years are now. It shows people, especially those who are past their teenage years, what sorts of things teenagers are exposed to now. It’s hard to realize, but drugs and sex are everywhere for kids of Charlie’s age. I know there are people at my school who do drugs or are dealers. I know people who have gotten drunk and almost killed themselves in cars. I know people who are as young as Charlie and getting into all of the same bad things he does. The book isn’t trying to say that this is what every teenager goes through, but it brings awareness to what most every teenager sees and learns about in school. I think the controversy of this particular novel is good, because it’s true. These are things that happen to kids in high school every day, and not everyone realizes that. It is an educational book for that reason, but the discoveries that Charlie makes, the decisions he makes, the way he falls in love, are profoundly moving, and the emotional connection you can make to it (or at least that I did) trumps all.
I love it when you add the teen perspective, Michaela. Thanks so much for commenting! Yes, drugs and sex are realities teens must face – then and now. The book is set in 1991, just after I graduated from high school, and I know for certain that the things going on in Charlie’s world went on at my high school too, as well as yours. It’s foolish to pretend that this stuff isn’t happening, and I don’t want my kids to be as alone and naive as Charlie is. I think a little exposure through a book like Perks is good, especially because Charlie responds so thoughtfully and genuinely to what happens to him. Great thoughts, Michaela!
I liked this book a lot. Yes, some of the content is edgy but kids are exposed to things like that all the time. Have you seen the movie? I thought it was done well.
When I read The Perks of Being a Wallflower earlier this year, I did not realize that it was on the Banned Books list. I guess because I am older, I forget sometimes how really young high school students are. Even my youngest grandchild is 21. I would not have had a problem with her reading this book in HS though, she is more mature than most. She may not have liked it at all. I think next time I talk to her I will ask her if she has read it. Thanks for your thoughts on it. I like the idea of an alternate title for parents who think a particular book in inappropriate.
Thanks for the review. I like your thoughts. I get tired of the same “dark” issues but this sounds thoughtful, and I really like that line you included. I am so perplexed at some of the banned books (To Kill a Mockingbird? uh…best book ever???), but I have been upset with some of the required reading my children have had. When there are so many “good” books out there… I guess I have some of the same feelings as Jennifer, above. Thanks for the recommendation; I’d like to check it out!
What have been some of the required books that you’ve had issues with? Is it an option for parents to choose something different?
I had been interested in reading this, but it fell off my radar. Probably because I read one too many YA books at the time. Ha.
I don’t agree with banning books, but it seems different when it’s a school library. Or required reading for a class. Is that weird? I think parents should have a say in that. And if a group of parents want to protect their kids from being exposed to explicit content then I really don’t have an issue with that. The problem is that it usually becomes a big hairy deal with lots of attention which I’m sure makes the kids want to read it even more.
You bring up an important point, Jennifer. Often attempts to ban books backfire because the process just brings more attention to the book in question.
I agree that parents should have a right to request an alternative book for their child if they deem classroom reading material inappropriate. I don’t think that one parent or a group of parents should have the right to dictate what other people’s children read, and that’s where the notion of banning bothers me, even if it is a school library. Good thoughts, thanks for contributing to the discussion Jennifer.
I’m not sure this is a book I want to read, but think banning it or any other book is wrong.
Haven’t read it yet~ I didn’t really know the background or content either, so thanks for the post! I’ll be picking this one up at some point 🙂
I had no idea what the content of the book was, so thank you for enlightening me! I can see the reasons people would fear it or want it to be banned, but it boils down to their need to protect, thinking banning the book is actually going to DO that. Nope. It’s all about choices and who makes those choices.
Happy to help! You’re right, it’s all about choices, and I’m thankful to live in a country that (usually) lets me choose!
I love that you said “when my kids read it”… that is so important! Thanks you for participating in the banned!
Happy to do it! Thanks for hosting the link up and for bringing attention to banned books!
I loved reading “Perks”, it was one of my favorite books this past year. It has very real and explicit issues through out the book, which made it relatable. I enjoyed your review of the book as well.
Yes, most readers can probably find at least one thing to relate to in Perks. I liked Charlie’s description of the awkward family gatherings at the holidays. I bet a lot of people have sat through a tense Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks for stopping by, glad you liked the review.