The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Chbosky, Stephen. (1999). The Perks of Being a Wallflower. MTV
ISBN: 978-0671027346
Awards:ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2000)
ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults (2002)
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2000)
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Sexual abuse, Homosexuality, Drugs, Depression, Suicide, Friendships
Annotation: In this diary entry novel, Charlie shares with his readers as he experiences high school with all its trimmings: drugs, sex, and friends. With a hazy past haunting him, Charlie moves through life a passive observer.
Summary:This story is in the form of letters to an unidentified recipient, written by Charlie, a shy and introverted high school student. Through these letters we hear about how Charlie deals with the day to day pressures of school and all the issues that come with being a teen: friends, drugs, sex, music, jocks, and not fitting in. As readers, we see Charlie moving from a strange detached place, through a painful memory, and finally to being able to connect with life.
Evaluation:Charlie's letters are written in simple language, giving the whole story a feeling of understatement, which fits well with Charlie and how he sees himself in the world. I really liked the book and believe the angst filled letters will appeal to great number of teens.