Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Sonsko

Every freshman in high school, should read it. And if not in freshman year, then just high school.

My favorite book is The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky for many ostensible reasons. First of all, it is a highly philosohpical book. The story describes how “infinite” can feel. My favorite quote is, “And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.” It just describes how life should feel. A major reason this book is my favorite is because I can often relate to the characters and the story. It is about a high school freshman who has to cope with finally becoming a part of life. Although I believe I am often 'a part of the dance floor', I know that I do stand on the fringes of life sometimes. It is also easy to relate to the protagonist, Charlie, because he is a high school freshman who must learn the ways after his brother and sister have already done so, but neglected to teach him. Another reason I adore this story is the magnificent way it was written. The layout is an unknown person who calls themselves 'Charlie' and mails letters to 'friend'. We only see what happens through Charlie's eyes, but that is enough to understand how his world really works, because of his observance. Often, stories are written with the protagonist being an outgoing character. The Perks of Being a Wallflower's protagonist is a boy who is coming of age, but not quite a social butterfly. This coming of age story has affected me to make it my favorite book. It is a powerful story that takes us through the wild days nown as growing up. Not only can you relate to the characters, but it can help the reader to deal with complex high school situations. We all deal with the dilemma of passivity vs. passion. By creating unique circumstances, the reader can understand how to deal with them. Sometimes, all we need is that little extra push in the right direction. By watching Charlie get 'pushed', we can see how we can push ourselves. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is the number one book I've read, although I have read amazing stories such as the Harry Potter stories, Memiors of a Geisha, and Snow Falling on Cedars.