The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky
Interest age: 14+
Reading age: 14+
Published by Simon & Schuster, 2013
About this book
Charlie is a shy, introspective teenager, who prefers to look on from the sidelines, and has his own unique perspective on the high school world he sees around him. But Charlie can't remain a 'wallflower' on the fringes of things forever, and through a distinctive narrative voice, he documents his experiences as he begins to encounter all the challenges of growing up.
Taking in everything from first dates to family dramas, new friends to experimenting with sex and drugs, Charlie's journey of self-discovery is both funny and deeply moving. This wistful, sensitive novel perfectly captures the uncertainty and excitement of adolescence, and has become a deserving modern classic.
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Boy Meets Boy
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Lists of recommended reads
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Best diary books for how it feels to be a teenager
There's something about the diary or journal format in a book that really helps you get under a character's skin. After all, you're privy to their first-person, most innermost thoughts. The relationship between the reader and this character feels so close that it can almost feel like a friendship. This must be why diary books are at their most powerful when you are a pre-teen or a young teenager: battling through puberty, everyday life, and trying to figure out who you are and want to be. Below are some of our favourites for capturing the highs, the lows, and the very, very funny bits.