Stephen Chbosky - The Perks of Being a Wallflower

9.5

It is my belief that this book is this generation's The Catcher in the Rye. Not to overstate the book's importance but it perfectly captures the teenage isolation and angst through the eyes of a new generation. Charlie, like Holden is impossibly emotional and raw, more or less encapsulating the imitate persona of our teenage years. The reason for the material's success is its treatment of every character, no matter the age or gender as real people with meaningful emotions. Every encounter is instantly relatable, full of age-appropriate gloom and ironic, truthful humor.

We slip into Charlie's shoes with ease and instantly sympathize with him. In the big picture, not much changes over the course of his first year in high school. But by focusing on the internal voice of a teenager in a constant state of change, we recognize the importance in his universal journey of growing up. The novel grasps the feel of our fleeting teenage years through simple prose and concrete situations. It celebrates the time in life where The Smiths were the voice of reason in a crazy, adult-run world. The underlaying truths of society seem to shine brightest during our high school years, and amongst the confusion we can later admit to knowing nothing and everything simultaneously. The teenage years are an emotional place everyone strives and dreads to return to and with his novel, author Stephen Chbosky provides the map.