“Britni Waller:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky was published in 1999. Recently, it has been challenged by parents in Fayetteville, Arkansas. A group of parents have organized and formed Parents Protecting the Minds of Children, or PPMC. The PPMC has listed the Perks of Being a Wallflower amongst their 34 other books to be removed from Fayetteville High School library. The PPMC objects to the profane language and depictions of sexuality within the novel. The PPMC has also accused the school librarians and their opponents of promoting homosexual agenda, obscene descriptions of sex, oral sex, and rape to students.
I thought the book was an intriguing read beause of it's outsider-looking-in perspective. In fact, once I started it, I couldn't put it down and finished it in 4 hours straight. Charlie is a boy who is writing letter's to an unknown "friend" who he had heard would be there to listen to him. Charlie is telling this friend about the truths within his high school world, which could really be almost any high school in America, as they all have similar problems. Charlie is a very intelligent child, who loves to read and observe. He sort of becomes an independent study student with his teacher, Bill. Bill takes a special interest in Charlie and gives him extra books to read and write about, and encourages Charlie to participate more in life, rather than sit back and think and observe life. Only through Charlie's innocent eyes are we able to see what it's like for a boy to crush on a girl but never have a shot, because he never comes out of the wallpaper. We, as readers, feel sorry for him when he takes LSD and is dizzy for days. We want him to just stop smoking already, because it's not good for him. We wish everything would work out for him and Sam, because he deserves to have something good in his life. And lastly, we wish we had someone who was that good of a friend for ourselves, but yet we know that if we did have him, we would think the same thing - why can't he speak up and be much more opinionated, rather than sit back and get stepped on all the time! I liked the book from Charlie's perspective, and you grow to love him. As for those who believe it should be banned from high schoolers, they should consder the fact that most high schoolers are no longer a blank canvas and already have some sort of influence. They can choose to be above any sort of influence, whether it's coming from their life or a book.”
Britni W wrote this review Monday, October 26 2009.
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