books like the perks of being a wallflower stephen chbosky

Charlie’s sadness stems from his trauma that we learn about later in the story, but he shows that he is able to make friends and have fun without pretending to be a “manly man”–– in other words, a man with little to no emotion.Īnother pivotal lesson Chbosky teaches us is the kind of treatment we accept from others. This is a great example for young boys now, because it conveys to them that emotion is not a weakness. Throughout the novel, Charlie is evidently emotional and is not afraid to show it. Then, he walked up, patted my shoulder, and said, ‘This is our little secret, okay, champ?’” He was crying harder than even my mom,” Charlie states. “I walked to the kitchen, and I saw my dad making a sandwich… and crying. The men in Charlie’s family are not allowed to show emotion if they do show emotion, it is in private - meaning that vulnerability is a secret. Problems with masculinity arise not even 10 pages into the book. This novel is especially conscious of toxic familial patterns and the difficulties that are involved with one’s mental health. While the novel does carry heavy emotions, it is essential for teens to read because of its candid discussions around trauma, new experiences and dealing with friendships, love and heartbreak. They befriend Charlie and make him feel seen and loved for the first time since he was a young boy.Ĭhbosky’s novel resonates among young audiences because of its honesty and relatability it is an ultimate reflection of life’s realities. He is kind, diffident and a bit socially awkward but when he meets seniors Patrick and Sam, they take an interest in him. He writes to us, the reader, staying anonymous while also being deeply personal about his life and how it has affected him. Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows Charlie, a freshman in high school. Yes Charlie, every teen has felt like that many times. That you wanted to sleep for a thousand years. “I don’t know if you’ve ever felt like that.

Books like the perks of being a wallflower stephen chbosky