fiction

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Over Labor Day, Sean and I were lucky enough to get to visit my brother in Kansas City. Sean finished reading this book while we were there and, since he had enjoyed it, I read it on the plane ride home.  The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a young adult novel, Chbosky’s first, and was published by MTV Books.  I’ve always been a fan of YA novels, but I usually stick with the classics, rereading old favorites, so it was a real treat to find this one.  Readers get to know Charlie, the main character, as he writes a series of letters to an unknown person.  Charlie experiences high school and all the issues modern high school students realistically face, including homosexuality, drug use, trying to fit in, and, of course, dealing with family.  What I also found to be interesting was reading about how Charlie discovers The Smiths, other indie rock bands, and their related subcultures.  The topic matter is presented more maturely than in many other YA books, making interesting reading for those of us who aren’t teenagers anymore.  It was a perfect vacation book!   

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