Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Powerful coming-of-age novel has sex, drugs, suicide, abuse.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 16 parent reviews
Based on 142 kid reviews
Kids say this is an impactful book that tackles heavy themes such as mental health, abuse, and the difficulties of adolescence, but it may not be suitable for younger readers due to its mature content. While many found it relatable and beautifully written, others expressed concerns about its explicit themes, recommending it only for those who are emotionally mature enough to engage with its challenging subject matter.
- impactful themes
- maturity required
- emotional connection
- relatable characters
- critical discussions
- heavy content
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, smart misfit Charlie is trying to learn to "participate" more in life following the sudden suicide of his friend. He befriends a couple of older kids, Sam and Patrick, who introduce him to partying but also respect his sensitivity and accept him for his differences. In letters that Charlie writes to an anonymous stranger, he talks about his family, his friends, and his complicated, often overwhelming, feelings about growing up. Eventually, Sam tells him that he "can't just sit there and put everybody's life ahead of yours and think that counts as love," and he slowly learns to step out from the sidelines.
Is It Any Good?
This powerful coming-of-age story was hugely popular when it was published in the late 1990s, but some elements haven't aged well. The Perks of Being a Wallflower portrays a complex vision of teen life, but there's a clunkiness that comes with its desire to cover too many trauma-related topics. Charlie is a 15-year-old drawn into an older friendship group, where he's underage for much of the drinking, drugs, and sexual activity that takes place. He's a likable character—at once sensitive and vulnerable, empathetic and kind. But the picture of the rebellious outsiders he hangs out with feels dated and idealistic—the cult music they listen to and books they read feel like basic, stereotypical ways of portraying them as "outcasts." There's lots of mature content here, from sexual material to Charlie's repressed memories of being abused; parents may want to read the book before or along with their teens so they can help with any questions or difficult emotions that come up.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what some people might find controversial about The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It was the 10th most challenged book on the American Library Association's list of the 100 most banned or challenged books of 2000–2009. Who should be able to make the decision about what you read or what's in your school or public library?
Discuss the structure of the book. What impact does it have telling the story through Charlie's letters to an anonymous friend? How does it help get to know the character?
What are some of the things that stop Charlie from participating in life? Why does he hold back? Have you ever felt like you're on the sidelines? What are some things you might do to live life more fully?
Discuss Charlie's friendship with Sam and Patrick. Why is friendship important? In what ways are the two good and bad influences? Who else influences his behavior? What does he learn during the story, and how do his outlook and behavior change?
Have you seen the 2012 movie adaptation? If so, how does it compare? If not, does reading the book make you want to watch it? Why, or why not?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : MTV
- Publication date : February 1, 1999
- Number of pages : 224
- Last updated : June 18, 2026
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