“Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.” -Stephen Chbosky

The novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky focuses on many serious and real issues that are potential struggles in life. Topics such as rape, abuse, alcohol, drugs, and feeling like an outsider all take place in this story.

Being a freshman in high school is always tough, but it is especially tough for Charlie. Going into high school with no friends after his best friend Michael killed himself the previous year, Charlie is stuck between being happy and sad, and he is not totally certain why. Living in the world of good friends, music, love, sex, and drugs, Charlie is a voice for everyone who ever felt like they didn’t belong.

The reason this is is because Charlie is known as a “wallflower.” Wallflower: a person who has no one to dance with or feels shy, awkward, or excluded at a party. There is no denying that not one of us has not felt like we didn’t belong somewhere at a certain point in our life. Charlie finds his perfect friend group who is made up of seniors, his best friends being Sam and Patrick. Their friend group is full of people who are “socially unacceptable.” Being gay, a stoner, a punk, a Buddhist, and a wallflower are not the typical types of people you see every day. But when they all come together and have that perfect song, on that perfect drive, there is a feeling of being “infinite.”

Stephen Chbosky’s writing style is unique and flows perfectly together. He writes how you think and feel and this why this book is the only book that ever gives my heart a feeling of sadness and happiness all at the same time. Chbosky truly makes you feel like you are Charlie while reading the book and you can feel Charlie’s pain and joy throughout the novel.

If you know me personally, you would know that I make every person I care about read this book. My copy of Perks of Being a Wallflower is beat up to the core and has markings of my favorite parts throughout the story. I have read this book numerous times and it never gets old.

This is the only story that truly touches my heart and gives me a feeling in my chest that is indescribable. In comparing this to other novels, you can’t. I have been on a hunt to find a story that matches the feeling this one gives me and I keep failing. No story compares to this one and I don’t think I can find one that does.

The audience this story reaches out to most is teenagers that struggle with something….so every teenager should read this. But, it is also great for adults and anyone who has a deep mindset and wants to hear their thoughts put into a book. I can’t put into words how amazing this story truly is.