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The Perks of Being a Wallflower Paperback – August 14, 2012

by Stephen Chbosky (Author)

9,134 customer reviews

in Teen & Young Adult Gay & Lesbian Fiction

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Read the cult-favorite coming of age story that takes a sometimes heartbreaking, often hysterical, and always honest look at high school in all its glory. Also a major motion picture starring Logan Lerman and Emma Watson, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a funny, touching, and haunting modern classic.

The critically acclaimed debut novel from Stephen Chbosky, Perks follows observant “wallflower” Charlie as he charts a course through the strange world between adolescence and adulthood. First dates, family drama, and new friends. Sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Devastating loss, young love, and life on the fringes. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie must learn to navigate those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

A #1 New York Times best seller for more than a year, an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults (2000) and Best Book for Reluctant Readers (2000), and with millions of copies in print, this novel for teen readers (or “wallflowers” of more-advanced age) will make you laugh, cry, and perhaps feel nostalgic for those moments when you, too, tiptoed onto the dance floor of life.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What is most notable about this funny, touching, memorable first novel from Stephen Chbosky is the resounding accuracy with which the author captures the voice of a boy teetering on the brink of adulthood. Charlie is a freshman. And while's he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. He's a wallflower--shy and introspective, and intelligent beyond his years, if not very savvy in the social arts. We learn about Charlie through the letters he writes to someone of undisclosed name, age, and gender, a stylistic technique that adds to the heart-wrenching earnestness saturating this teen's story. Charlie encounters the same struggles that many kids face in high school--how to make friends, the intensity of a crush, family tensions, a first relationship, exploring sexuality, experimenting with drugs--but he must also deal with his best friend's recent suicide. Charlie's letters take on the intimate feel of a journal as he shares his day-to-day thoughts and feelings:

I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they're here. If they like their jobs. Or us. And I wonder how smart they were when they were fifteen. Not in a mean way. In a curious way. It's like looking at all the students and wondering who's had their heart broken that day, and how they are able to cope with having three quizzes and a book report due on top of that. Or wondering who did the heart breaking. And wondering why.

With the help of a teacher who recognizes his wisdom and intuition, and his two friends, seniors Samantha and Patrick, Charlie mostly manages to avoid the depression he feels creeping up like kudzu. When it all becomes too much, after a shocking realization about his beloved late Aunt Helen, Charlie retreats from reality for awhile. But he makes it back in due time, ready to face his sophomore year and all that it may bring. Charlie, sincerely searching for that feeling of "being infinite," is a kindred spirit to the generation that's been slapped with the label X. --Brangien Davis --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

A trite coming-of-age novel that could easily appeal to a YA readership, filmmaker Chbosky's debut broadcasts its intentions with the publisher's announcement that ads will run on MTV. Charlie, the wallflower of the title, goes through a veritable bath of bathos in his 10th grade year, 1991. The novel is formatted as a series of letters to an unnamed "friend," the first of which reveals the suicide of Charlie's pal Michael. Charlie's response--valid enough--is to cry. The crying soon gets out of hand, though--in subsequent letters, his father, his aunt, his sister and his sister's boyfriend all become lachrymose. Charlie has the usual dire adolescent problems--sex, drugs, the thuggish football team--and they perplex him in the usual teen TV ways. [...] Into these standard teenage issues Chbosky infuses a droning insistence on Charlie's supersensitive disposition. Charlie's English teacher and others have a disconcerting tendency to rhapsodize over Charlie's giftedness, which seems to consist of Charlie's unquestioning assimilation of the teacher's taste in books. In the end we learn the root of Charlie's psychological problems, and we confront, with him, the coming rigors of 11th grade, ever hopeful that he'll find a suitable girlfriend and increase his vocabulary.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product details

Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: MTV Books; Media Tie-In edition (August 14, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1451696191
ISBN-13: 978-1451696196
Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.5 x 7 inches
Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 9,134 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,675 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Gay & Lesbian
- #2 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Epistolary
- #14 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Coming of Age

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Top customer reviews

Adolescence Has Not Changed

ByArthuron March 2, 2013

Format: Amazon VideoVerified Purchase

I am 74 years old. The world is different now; there are more risks and more choices than when I was 15, but this movie reminded me of what it felt like to be 15 and 16 in 1954 and 1955. In those days homework was accompanied by radio with Rock and Roll music thanks to Alan Fried, Ranger hockey against Maurice Richard, and Gene Shepard,the best story teller of all time. Most of us had after school jobs which gave us enough spending money to begin making choices independent of our parents, and every day we left home and entered the world alone, with very little confidence but with the hope that everything was going to work out. Watching Charlie going through his day, observing the antics of his friends and trying to make sense of it all, brought tears to my eyes. The beauty of the movie is that it captures the universal experience of adolescence, and fortunately, as difficult as the experience may be, just like Charlie, most of us make it through.

1111 comments 492 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

excellent and authentic

ByAngela Mon March 8, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

When this book debuted in 1999, I was working in a large chain bookstore and I was the one to unpack it. With the original green cover and simple text "MTV Books" I was intrigued enough that I read it immediately. I loved it. I came of age in the early 90s myself (like Charlie) and this book is so true to life and authentic. It remains a favorite. The film was so good, I was pleasantly surprised and less so upon finding that Chbosky had a heavy hand in its creation. I recently purchased this for a friend's teenage daughter at her request and am excited to see how she likes it.

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?YesNo

The books rawness intrigued and captivated me in the same way as books like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

ByDarcus Murrayon July 22, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I have to admit that I wasn't interested in this book until I saw the trailer for the movie adaptation of it. Once I did decide to read it, I wasn't too sure what I was going to find inside it's odd cover.

I was thrown off a little at first because it's written a letter-like form. I got into it quickly, however, and almost read the entire book in one sitting.

The books rawness intrigued and captivated me in the same way as books like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. There's a realness to the story and the characters that sometimes make me wonder if they're based on real people and events.

The book was very well written and the story was amazing. The Perks of Being a Wallflower had me chuckling at times and tearing up during others. I am dying to see the movie now. (Note: I wrote this review right when the movie came out. I have since seen and it was awesome.)

Rating: 4 Stars.
Characters: Charlie, Sam & Patrick.

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?YesNo

Not like most YA, movie as good as book. Relatable.

ByGeorgiaGirlon June 26, 2017

Format: Amazon VideoVerified Purchase

Love the book. Love the movie. GREAT Soundtrack. And the reason I love it..... I am 33. BUT NOBODY forgets the awkwardness of teenage years. SO its great. If you are a teen, it is not like most YA that is too far fetched that you don't go, hey, I relate to THAT (at least once). Acting is great. Storyline, great. Music, great.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

it is an amazing story about the realities of high school and the ...

ByLinda Osterhoudton October 2, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is a book with a lot of challenging material in it. Even though these aspects are challenging, these things such as drugs, sex, abuse, and determining sexuality all come into play and are very important in this book. These topics are all very real things that should be addressed. This book really speaks to teens and adults in a way that nothing else can, it is an amazing story about the realities of high school and the world in general. In fact this book was so real, it was unlike any of the sugar coated high school books, Chbosky proves this by including “But because things change. And people leave. And life doesn’t stop for anybody”(Chbosky145) in his book. Personally I loved this book, if I didn't have to put it down, I wouldn't have. It is the kind of book that sucks you in until you are finished and wishing it was longer.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

If you're like me.... then this film is a Must Watch.

ByMa Muon July 6, 2017

Format: Amazon VideoVerified Purchase

Such brilliant writing. I will now purchase the book to read. I finished viewing "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" about a half-hour ago... and I Still have tears in my eyes. I love films that portray raw, unfiltered truth... which this film does beautifully. Superb casting, cast and direction.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

happy and outgoing teen

Bymcnutton February 5, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower is a truly moving story about Charlie, a freshman in high school, who is by no means popular. He is very shy, but that all comes down to a mental issue that occurred because of something that happened when he was younger, which you will get the gist of later on in the book. The author, Stephen Chbosky, has plotted this story very well. It isn't your average book set up - Charlie writes letters to an anonymous reader known as 'Friend'. Charlie tells this person everything he does and feels, who he meets and loves. Charlie meets two outgoing outsiders that are much cooler than him, but they accept him and he finally feels included. Patrick, a gay, happy and outgoing teen, and Sam, a beautiful young woman, introduce Charlie to a new world filled with sex, drugs and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. They also show Charlie the power of music and Charlie becomes more and more music savvy. He particularly likes The Smiths and the song ‘Asleep’. Charlie goes on a rollercoaster ride full of emotions, and learns that he has the greatest friends he could wish for. If you read this story you will laugh, cry and keep reading on. It is not to be missed. Charlie will show you that high school can be enjoyed if you have the right friends and becoming a teenager isn't as scary as you think, even though it seems that way. Although, I could not relate to any of the characters in the book, it was interesting to learn about what other people might be going through. This book really opened my eyes, and made me realize that people might seem fine on the outside, but there are often bigger things going on in their lives. Charlie's story touched me, because I feel like many authors don't like to talk about the things that Charlie went through as a kid. It was a refreshingly new way of writing. I would most definitely recommend this book to a friend because I think that everyone would enjoy reading this book. If I could change something about this book, I wouldn’t change anything. Although some parts were sad, I think that the book wouldn't be half as good if anything was changed in it. All in all, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an easy and fun read, and I highly recommend picking it up.

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Most recent customer reviews

Amazing

This book always gives me chills I just love it one of my ALL time favs. I am one of the believers that the book is better than the movie because the movie focused too much on Sam...Read more

Published 2 hours ago by Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Great book

Published 4 days ago by Heather

Moving

At first this book was a chore, I was only reading it because I had to read and my brother kept suggesting it to me.Read more

Published 5 days ago by Christine Cochran

A Study On Wallflowerism

Definitely an interesting read. There's much to think about afterward. Some of this young man's experiences or encounters defy belief.Read more

Published 5 days ago by Rick

Must read!

This book was amazing. It takes a few chapters to get into it but once you are, it's great

Published 6 days ago by Cristal M.

I love and hate this movie

I love and hate this movie. I read the book and strongly identified with it. Watching it on screen was heartbreaking and charming. Great casting, too.

Published 6 days ago by Daenerys

This book is infinite.

I'm a teenager, this book makes me feel like I'm reading my own writing. This is my favorite book, but it's also the last one I read.

Published 9 days ago by vicki persinger

Watch it

I love this movie! It's so heart warming and thought provoking ...never judge a person! Casting was spot-on and so was the acting!

Published 9 days ago by Movie Reviewer

better price but don't think my son liked the book ...

better price but don't think my son liked the book at all! It is silly the books the colleges use for literature!

Published 13 days ago by Ruth Markel

Better than the movie

The movie was my favourite film, the book ended up being a thousand times better. Glad I finally picked up a good book again.

Published 14 days ago by Amazon Customer

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