The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. MTV Books/Pocket Books, 1999. 213 pages. ISBN-10: 0671027344. ISBN-13: 978-0671027346.

Plot:

15-year-old Charlie is afraid to start his freshman year of high school. His best friend has committed suicide, his brother is away at college, and he and his sister are no longer as close as they once were. On top of this, Charlie has emotional problems that make it difficult for him to relate to people. To cope with everything, he begins to write letters to an anonymous recipient that he heard was a good listener. Charlie’s letters detail his experience with his family, friends, and the new people he meets. He writes about his Advanced English teacher, who gives him extra reading and encourages him to share his ideas. He reveals information about his family’s past and how it affects who they are now. He writes about learning to “participate” in life and his difficulties with doing so. Perhaps the biggest focus of his letters is his new friendship with two seniors, Patrick and Sam. He loves them both and they are an important part of helping him deal with his life, as well as figure out where he fits in. Charlie changes a lot throughout the course of his letters, but he is faithful in relating every experience along the way.

Critical Evaluation:

The most interesting aspect of this book is the format in which it was written. By choosing to write it as a series of letters to an anonymous recipient, Chbosky personalizes the story in a way that traditional narrative or even journal style could not. It allows readers to truly feel as if Charlie is speaking directly to them. Chbosky also chooses to eschew proper grammar and sentence structure in many instances, but it’s obvious that this is a stylistic choice meant to convey a more authentic teenage voice rather than simply a mistake or poor writing.

There is a sinister undercurrent to this book, which really shows Charlie struggling with emotional issues due to the death of his aunt and (as we later find out) her sexual abuse of him. Charlie seems much younger than his actual age. He’s shy and unconventional, but also socially and emotionally delayed in many ways. Though the content is more appropriate for older teens, Charlie is a character to which younger teens could probably more easily relate. Despite being written almost more than a decade ago, most of the characters could easily have been created today. The parties, friendships, relationships, and other experiences Charlie has ring true.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower has been considered a modern young adult classic since its publication in 1999. It’s the epitome of a coming-of-age novel. Just as my generation loved it when it was published, current and future generations will enjoy and relate to it, as well.

Reader's Annotation:

15-year-old Charlie relates the ups and downs of his freshman year of high through letters written to an unknown recipient.

Author Information:

Stephen Chbosky was born January 25, 1970 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended public school in St. Clair, Pennsylvania at a high school that is a three times nominated Blue Ribbon school. He then attended the University of Southern California as part of their screen writing program. He has worked as a screen writer on a handful of films including Rent, the television series Jericho, and his first film The Four Corners of Nowhere, in which he also acted and directed.

Though he has written several screenplays and edited a collection of short stories, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is his only novel. It is semi-autobiographical and also deeply influenced by Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. His writing is also influenced by the works of Tennessee Williams, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Stewart Stern, the screen writer for Rebel Without A Cause.

Genre:

Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

English: Writing Style, Journaling

Booktalking Ideas:

• Discuss who you think Charlie is writing to and if it really matters.
• Discuss whether their situation determines the person or the person determines their situation.
• Introduce Charlie and the book plot in letter form.

Reading Level/Interest Age:

15 and older

Challenge Issues:

Depiction of homosexuality
Profanity
Sexual content
Drug, alcohol and tobacco Use
Suicide
Molestation
Rape

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
• If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
• Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
• Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.

Reasons for Selection:

This is one of the more well-known YA books of modern times. It is also being adapted for a film in 2011.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Elkeles, Simone. Perfect Chemistry. Walker Books for Young Readers, 2008. 368 pages. ISBN-10: 0802798233. ISBN-13: 978-0802798237.

Plot:

On the surface, Brittany and Alex couldn’t be more different. She is a popular cheerleader, from perfect family on the rich side of town, and part of the school’s golden couple. He is a member of the Latino Blood gang, poor, and dangerous. When the two are paired up as lab partners, they are both unhappy with the situation. To prove himself, Alex makes a bet with his friends that he can get Brittany to have sex with him by Thanksgiving. As the two get to know each other, they start to see that their perceptions were very wrong. Brittany’s family is actually pretty dysfunctional and her perfect exterior is her defense to hide that. Alex is actually a smart boy who longs to go to college, but is trapped in the gang in order to help his family. As they discover more about each other, they begin to fall in love. Their friends and family aren’t ready to accept them as a couple, however. As Brittany’s family situation spins out of control and Alex is forced to go deeper into the gang life, they’re not sure if their love will survive.

Critical Evaluation:

Perfect Chemistry is a pretty predictable novel. The storyline isn’t especially original. The good girl and the bad boy who hate each other but slowly fall in love has been done many times over. The characters are stereotypical, both on the surface and underneath. She’s the “perfect” girl with the difficult home life. He’s the bad boy who wants to escape his circumstances and better himself. They’re also very frustrating at the start of the novel. The ending of the story isn’t especially shocking or original. Despite all this, Perfect Chemistry is a sweet and engaging read. Presenting it in alternating viewpoints allows the reader insight into each of the characters, especially since they hide so much from each other and the world around them. After the initial frustration, the characters become endearing as they fall in love, almost as if their love is what redeems them both. It’s impossible to not cheer them on as they take on a world that isn’t ready to accept them for who they are and certainly isn’t ready to accept them being together. They encounter what should be extremely dangerous and almost impossible challenges, but the ending is tied up neatly. Rather than being annoying in its lack of realism, the ending is satisfying. This is a touching and romantic read; realism isn’t necessary.

Reader's Annotation:

Brittany and Alex come from vastly different backgrounds, but fall in love after being paired as chemistry lab partners.

Author Information:

Simone Elkeles was born and raised near Chicago, where many of her books take place. She attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign where she received a degree in Psychology in 1992. She then went on to attend Loyola University-Chicago to study Industrial Relations. Following graduation, she worked creating diversity programs for a manufacturing company.

Her first book was published in 2006. She writes solely for young adults because she enjoys writing about the excitement of teenage love and romance. She tries her best to make sure her characters and situations are realistic, including actually spending time in a juvenile detention center to research her Leaving Paradise series.

Genre:

Romance

Curriculum Ties:

English: A modern comparison to Romeo and Juliet.

Booktalking Ideas:

• Discuss the idea of stereotypes and first impressions.
• Talk about being trapped by your situations and deciding to break free.
• Discuss the similarities between Brittany's life and Alex's life.

Reading Level/Interest Age:

15 and older

Challenge Issues:

Profanity
Sexual content
Violence
Gang activity
Drug and alcohol use

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
• If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
• Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
• Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.

Reasons for Selection:

I was first attracted to this book because of the alternating narrator style in which is is written. It's a sweet twist on the Romeo and Juliet plot-line, but written for modern audiences.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company, 1951. 277 pages. ISBN-10: 0241001870. ISBN-13: 978-0241001875.

Plot:

Holden Caulfield recounts his experiences during a December weekend the previous year. Due to his failing grades, he has been kicked out of yet another boarding school. Instead of waiting for the semester to end, he decides to spend the weekend in New York hiding from his parents. He takes a train in the middle of the night and ends up at a dodgy hotel. After arriving, he spends his time drinking and dancing with tourists in a bar. He is lonely and hires a prostitute, but after seeing her he decides he only wants to talk. She finds him weird and leaves, but Holden pays her anyway. Later she returns with her pimp, demanding more money. They beat up Holden and take the money, so Holden decides to leave the hotel. He spends the next few days wondering around the city, visiting with old friends and attempting to meet up with his younger sister, Pheobe. Eventually he decides to sneak into her room to talk to her, but leaves before his parents can discover him. He then visits an old teacher, but after deciding that the teacher is coming on to him, Holden runs yet again. He decides he will leave for good and head out west alone, but Pheobe has other plans.

Critical Evaluation:

The Catcher in the Rye is a classic for a reason. Despite being written more than fifty years ago, the dead-on teenage voice and attitude is something to which readers of any time period have been able to relate. Salinger captures teenage apathy and idealism perfectly. The stream of consciousness writing and stylistic choices he makes result in a narrative that feels as if the reader is sitting with Holden and listening to him tell his story. Though it might seem as if writing it in that way is a result of laziness, The Catcher in the Rye is expertly crafted.

Everything and nothing happens in this novel. Holden spends three days wandering New York where many of his experiences aren’t incredibly out of the ordinary. It’s his commentary and restlessness while engaging in the activities, along with the extreme importance he attaches to even the most mundane of occurrences, that make it feel as if there is more involved in the weekend than what really happens. This weightiness is unsurprising given that Holden is narrating the experience from a year later, after being hospitalized immediately after that weekend. It also falls in line with the adolescent feeling that every experience and every thought is of the utmost importance. Because of the voice of this character, it is appropriate that this is considered one of the first young adult novels ever.

Reader's Annotation:

After failing out of yet another prep school, Holden Caulfield decides to spend the weekend hiding in New York to avoid being around when his parents find out. He spends his time drinking, looking up old friends, and expounding on his theories on life.

Author Information:

J.D Salinger was born January 1, 1919 and died at the age of 91 on January 27, 2010. He was raised in Manhattan and attended both public and private schools before transferring to Valley Forge Military Academy, where he first started writing short stories. He then attended New York University to study Special Education, but soon dropped out. After a stint working in meat-packing in Austria and attending two more colleges, Salinger began submitting his short stories for publication. In 1942, he was drafted into the Army and was present at Utah Beach on D-Day.

After the war, Salinger returned to his writing. The Catcher in the Rye was published in 1951. The novel was both lauded and vilified, but by the late 50s it was wildly popular, especially among teenagers. The success of the novel and the attention it earned him was overwhelming to Salinger. He withdrew from the public and his writing suffered as he began to publish fewer and fewer stories. Later in life he was involved in several lawsuits involving biographers and copyright violators, including an author who wrote a novel about Holden Caulfield as an adult.

Genre:

Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

English: Writing Style

Booktalking Ideas:

• Discuss what Holden means when he calls so many people "phonies"
• Read the first paragraph and then introduce Holden in character
• Talk about how this has simultaneously been the most challenged and most taught book

Reading Level/Interest Age:

14 and older

Challenge Issues:

Unsuitable role model
Profanity
Sexual content
Blasphemy
Undermining of family values
Encouragement of rebellion
Alcohol and tobacco use
Association with high profile murders

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
• If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
• Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
• Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.

Reasons for Selection:

It has been credited with helping create the category of young adult literature. It still remains one of the most popular YA novels.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Doctorow, Cory. Little Brother. Tor Teen, 2008. 384 pages. ISBN-10: 0765319853. ISBN-13: 978-0765319852.

Plot:

17-year-old Marcus and his friends decide to skip school to participate in an online scavenger hunt, which results in them being on the streets of San Francisco when a terrorist group attacks. As they look for help for his friend Darryl who was stabbed in the melee, they’re all taken captive by the Department of Homeland Security. They spend days in a detention facility where Marcus is interrogated, tortured, and threatened into silence before they are finally released, without Darryl. They then discover that San Francisco has turned into a police state. Marcus and his friends decide they’re going to take on the DHS for what they did to them and Darryl.

Marcus uses technology to organize a group of teenagers to fight back against the DHS and the tracking tools they’re using. As he does this, his relationship with his friends becomes more and more strained until they become too afraid to continue helping him. Marcus is left with only the help of his new girlfriend Ange and the army of faceless teenagers who are quickly getting out of control. As the DHS closes in, Marcus decides that he’s unable to handle it all alone anymore and reveals what happened to his parents and a journalist. This only serves to further anger the DHS and Marcus soon learns that he has nowhere else to hide. He can only hope that telling his story can help him before it’s too late.

Critical Evaluation:

I hadn’t expected to enjoy this book as much as I did. I went into it biased because of the description and subject matter, but found myself reading it voraciously after the first chapter. Doctorow manages to weave together an interesting story, descriptions of a large amount of technology, and a political message in such a way that each only serves to enhance each aspect. Marcus could have easily been written as a cipher or fallen flat, but instead he’s a deep and complex character. He’s also a character to which many readers can relate, whether they have the same rebellious and righteous streak that he does or not. Doctorow gives him foolhardy fearlessness that comes with youth and believing in your cause, but also a vulnerability that adds tension to the reading.

The inclusion of descriptions a vast number of technologies is another area where the book could easily have become dry and unreadable, but instead Doctorow explains them in a way that is both easy to understand and incredibly interesting. In fact, I found some of the technology so fascinating that I was inspired to do more research on the subject myself. It’s a great way to introduce the reader to many of the technological options that are in use today or could be in use in the near future.

Reader's Annotation:

When Marcus and his friends decided to skip school, they had no idea they would end up being interrogated and tortured by the Department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Now Marcus is mad and he’s going to make the DHS pay for what they did.

Author Information:

Corey Doctorow was born July 17, 1971 in Toronto, Canada. His parents were very active in many causes and Doctorow inherited that passion. As a child he campaigned for Green Peace and was involved in the movement for nuclear disarmament. He also volunteered with the Youth Challenge International. As an adult, Doctorow is a big proponent of intellectual freedom and the loosening of copyright laws.

He has written over 20 novels, anthologies, and non-fiction books many of which are licensed under Creative Commons. Technology, intellectual freedom, digital rights management, and post-scarcity economics are common themes in his books. He offers several of his books, including Little Brother, as free downloads on his website. He encourages his readers to remix his books through their Creative Commons licenses and send him the results to post.

Genre:

Science Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

Computer Science: Technology
Government: Terrorism, Freedom and Rights, Torture and Interrogation Tactics
English: Character Development, Plot Development

Booktalking Ideas:

• Introduce each of the characters using their online personas.
• Focus on the scene where they’re picked up by the DHS.
• Discuss Marcus’s idea of freedom vs. safety.
• Focus on some of the technology mentioned in the book.
  

Reading Level/Interest Age:

14 and older

Challenge Issues:

Sexual content
Profanity
Anti-government sentiment
Violence
Positive view of hacking

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
• If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
• Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
• Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.

Reasons for Selection:

It was a required reading for the class. It has also now become one of my new favorites.