I am a big lover and champion of Young Adult fiction, yet until now I hadn't read the Perks of Being a Wallflower (or even seen the film which surprises me because it has Emma Watson in it). It was one of those novels that I knew I should read and I have friends who say it's their favourite book, but I just never got round to it.
Well, now I've got round to it and I can definitely say it's in my top 10 favourite books. It takes a special book to really move me, and that's what Perks did, by Stephen Chbosky. Told via a series of letters, we gain an insight into Charlie's mind and his experiences navigating high school. Charlie is a freshman, and as a shy, introverted person, he spends his life observing others and not really fitting in. As his life drastically changes through new relationships with family, friends and the frightening prospect that is first dates, Charlie is pushed to the brink of adulthood and all the challenges that brings.
This book resonated very strongly with me. While I've by no means shared the same experiences as Charlie, I've always been an outsider, an observer of life rather than a participator, a wallflower. The unique writing style Chbosky uses really immerses you into Charlie's mindset and you empathise with him on a personal level. Perks is really insightful, not only into the mind of a teenager trying to survive the world of school and friendships, but it also puts a light on mental health, handling the subject delicately.
This is a truly great coming of age story that I think everyone should read. It comes from a place of honesty and truth, from a slightly unconventional viewpoint that really opens your eyes to the world and the different people with different lives that inhabit it.
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