The Perks of Being A Wallflower

The Perks of Being A Wallflower, written by Stephen Chbosky, is a coming of age novel narrated by Charlie, a freshman in high school. The book isn't set up like a traditional novel, though. It is a series of letters Charlie writes throughout his freshman year to an anonymous stranger. His letters begin with him being an outcast, always alone and dealing with severe depression. However, he befriends two quirky seniors who change his perspective on life.

I hate to admit it, but I actually saw the movie before I read the book. I really enjoyed it, so I bought the book, and it was a completely different experience. Since the book is a collection of Charlie's letters, it differed so much from the movie and I enjoyed it much more. I read this book in the beginning of my sophomore year, and I think it was perfect timing. At the time, I was going through a lot emotionally, and the lessons that I learned really changed my perspective. I felt like I could relate to many of the characters, and I found their success quite uplifting. I loved how many of the characters Charlie befriended did what made them happy instead of trying to fit in. I really would recommend this book to anyone, especially in their teens