The Perks of Being a WallFlower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower focus on the life of Charlie and his perspective as told through personal letters written to an anonymous person.  The letters mention extremely personal details and even quoting what people say.  The story begins as he details his best friend, Michael's suicide.  He soon after begins high school and at first starts off alone, looking to his English teacher who keeps him occupied with extra reading.  But Charlie soon makes a friend named Patrick who is a senior along with his step-sister, Sam.  They are not considered popular or jocks, but they do have a close group of friends.  Charlie chronicles his first experience with drugs as well as memories from his childhood.  He had a favorite aunt who died in a car accident on his birthday which left Charlie with a great deal of guilt and emotionally unstable.  Since that time he has very sensitive feelings and can cry extremely easily.  He has his first girlfriend, which causes problems in the group dynamic.  He often mentions his dysfunctional family and how they are prone to drinking, but can also showcase their closeness as he helps his sister with a difficult time.  As time progresses and his friendships become constrained, he delves further into an abusive lifestyle by continually taking drugs, crying often and struggling with depression.  He also expriments with homosexuality in order to help his friend Patrick, deal with the hard break-up with his secret boyfriend, Brad.  Soon he accepted by his friends again and things begin to normalize.  However, upon his first sexual encounter, Charlie has a terrible realization of childhood molestation at the hands of his aunt that leads to an emotional break-down.  Finally at the end of the book, Charlie is getting ready to start his sophomore year and although his friends have all graduated, he excited to start actually trying to live his life.

The book is written from the perspective of Charlie in a series of letters.  Although he does not really know the recipient very well, he acts as though they are the closest of friends.  This only speaks to the longing for friendship that Charlie desires and pursues over the course of the book.  There are several different deep and difficult issues addressed in the book.  There is the prevent use of drugs by Charlie, almost on an addiction basis.  There are also several different instances of sex used through out the book.  Charlie has witnessed a couple of them as well as experienced them.  He also has dealt with homosexuality.  His best friend Patrick was gay, had a difficult break.  Charlie was there and helped him by going to places to meet guys as well as kiss him when he needed it.  While Charlie wasn't comfortable with it, he allowed it to happen because "it's what friends do."  Throughout the course of the book, Charlie strives to be honest as well as have friends, which from the letters, appears to be at odds.  He can at times be brutally honest and end up hurting others feelings.  Charlie deals with depression at different times over the course of the book, but can also see great moments of happiness and joy.  The book is extremely well written told from an honest and blunt perspective that doesn't sugarcoat situations.  However, Charlie who can be full of emotion at one minute then is completely devoid of it in in the next, which make it seem as though he is at odds with himself.  I think that most teens and young adults would find that the book may find the book intriguing and to an extent, honest within their own lives.