Perks of Being a Wallflower

Trigger warnings for this book: domestic abuse, violence, homophobia, sexual abuse of a minor, suicide, depression, bullying, abortion, grief

Most everyone has heard of this book. While I had watched the movie ages ago, I had actually never read the book, so I downloaded the audiobook and finished it that same day.

The plot follows fifteen-year-old Charlie, who navigates the complexities of growing up during his freshman year of high school. Simple in premise but so very layered for a YA work of fiction. Charlie is an innocent, ignorant teenager, finding his first crushes, dealing with family issues, and working to understand the ins-and-outs of a social life.

This book is incredible. It discusses a lot of adult topics with the innocence of a young teen, which I find very refreshing. This book touches on violence in relationships, teen pregnancies, loss, and grief but with a unique perspective.

Spoilers ahead: I think that this book investigations sexual abuse in a very … interesting way (good interesting, I think). Essentially, we discover that Charlie was sexually abused by his Aunt Helen at a very young age. And yet, Charlie didn’t even realize this until he was sixteen years old and admitted to a psychiatric ward in the epilogue of the novel. And, throughout the book, Charlie reveres his Aunt Helen; he cries over her and visits her grave and says that he misses her. It’s just interesting to analyze, I think.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It’s so emotional and well written.