“He's a wallflower. You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.”

Synopsis

The critically acclaimed debut novel from Stephen Chbosky, Perks follows observant “wallflower” Charlie as he charts a course through the strange world between adolescence and adulthood. First dates, family drama, and new friends. Sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Devastating loss, young love, and life on the fringes. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie must learn to navigate those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

General Information

Genre : Young Adult / Contemporary
Paperback : 231 pages
ASIN : 147111614X
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Author : Stephen Chbosky

Review

• SPOILER ALERT * SPOILER ALERT * SPOILER ALERT*

This book has just officially become my all time favourite book!!! I just wish this was around in the late Eighties when I was a teenager myself...

Charlie faces the transition between adolescence and adulthood and he is faced with many challenges that most teenagers, boys or girls, don't really know how to deal with - often witty, often charming, often heartbreaking; Wallfower will give you all the feels!

It's clear that Charlie suffers from some kind of mental illness, but the book, in it's entirety, doesn't actually tell the reader what it is... nevertheless, Charlie, and the other main characters, Sam and Patrick, are exceptionally well written, with layers and depths that exist in all of us.

This book takes on a massive amount of issues that kids face, and that we as adults don't know how to educate our kids about; like drugs, sex, mental health, eating disorders, abortion, suicide, etc.

“So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be.”

Stephen has created a masterwork with Perks, even though it took him 5 years to write it, and I highly, highly recommend this book to just about everyone! I also recommend getting this book for any and all teenagers that you know - gift it to your friend and their kids; they will thank you.

Now, I am faced with only one question : Should I watch the movie...?

Fun Facts:

• Stephen wrote the screenplay for and directed the movie adaptation of Perks;
• He and Emma Watson developed a close relationship during their time filming Perks;
• He served as co-creator, executive producer, and writer for the CBS television series, Jericho;
• Chbosky rewrote the original script for the live action movie version of Disney's Beauty and the Beast;
• He also directed the movie adaptation of Wonder by R. J. Palacio;
  Find these and other facts, here.

If you've read Perks, do let me know your thoughts - I'd love to know if anyone didn't love this book; hit me up in the comment section below. As always, don't forget to like and share. Until next time...

Keep smiling

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