10 Perks of Being a Wallflower (by Heather B)
I first read The Perks of Being a Wallflower soon after it was published and was completely taken. I passed it to my younger brother, still in high school, who said something like, “If they gave us stuff like that to read in school, I might still be reading novels.” I listened to the audiobook (which I especially love to do with epistolary novels) and have definite opinions on the different narrators that have recorded it. I am so glad that it’s been made into a movie and especially glad that Chbosky was the screenwriter and director. It’s a book that I’ve replaced for wear numerous times over the years in every collection I’ve overseen, and was glad when it was finally released in hardcover this summer. I’m a fan. I’m betting that you have fans in your library, or you soon will. What to tide them over with until their copy comes in? What do you point them toward when they want to go back and see the movie again but are out of cash? These are not all typically classified as YA, but as Perks is one of the greatest all-time crossover novels, I think that’s fitting.
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Filed under: Laurie Halse Anderson, Movies, Rats Saw God, Rob Thomas, Sherman Alexie, Speak, Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, YA Lit
About Karen Jensen, MLS
Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).
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Annette says
Interesting list. I forgot about Rats Saw God. Made me want to read it again.
Best Recommended Indianapolis Web Design Website says
I was in my freshman year of high school when I read this novel, the same age as Charlie. Unlike all the shows one watches on tv where all the teen agers are beautiful and popular; Charlie isn't. His words will touch you in a manner of realism like no other. The honesty of of what his says makes this novel truely worth the read. A fine read indeed. Turn off the tv, stop watching picture perfect models of what teenagers are supose to be like and read this; the novel of what being a teenager is truely about-belonging.