As one grows up, it becomes easy to forget what it was like to be a misunderstood teen. The woes of life become so hectic that they overpower any memory previously believed by one’s teenage mind to be a struggle. This is why Young Adult Literature exists; to remind aging adults just how difficult those years of angst really were. One such book that successfully accomplishes this great task is The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Whether the reader is 12 or 112, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a relatable YA book that pulls at the heart strings with every page read. Stephen Chbosky is the man wrote The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He is a novelist, screenwriter, and director who was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was raised catholic and politically leans towards the Democratic Party. Some of his major influences were F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tennessee Williams, and the novel The Catcher in the Rye. Though he primarily specializes in screenwriting for movies and TV series, Chbosky has experienced his biggest success in writing his young adult novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The reception for his novel among teens has been astonishing. According to Chbosky, two kids have written him saying that after reading his book, they decided not to commit suicide. When asked how this made him feel as a writer he responded: It’s very overwhelming. It’s beautiful on one hand, because you’re just grateful that you’re able to impact somebody that positively. It’s almost beyond words, but at the same time it’s very sad, because you realize that a book did this, as opposed to a friend, a parent, a priest or someone in the young person’s life. I’m happy that nobody died, of course, but I’m just sad that those young people reached such points ... ... middle of paper ... ...ch the hearts and minds of all age groups. Author, Stephen Chbosky, wrote a relatable YA book that covers many issues that are prevalent within the adolescent generation. Though the novel is written at the level of a young adult, it is still very applicable to be taught within a classroom, and the major motion picture of the book can be fun classroom activity as well. All in all, The perks of being a wallflower is a fantastic YA book that will inspire the young and leave the old feeling nostalgic. Works Cited Beckerman, Marty. “An Interview with Stephen Chbosky.” Word Riot. 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. Chbosky, Stephen. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” New York : Pocket Books,1999. Print. Handy, Bruce. “Q&A: Perks of Being a Wallflower’s Stephen Chbosky on Emma Watson’s Casting, High School Yearning, and ‘Hereos’.” The Hollywood Blog. 5 Oct 2012. Web 22 Apr. 2014.
Character- The main character Charlie is developed in many ways throughout the story. His whole demeanor changed from page one. He actually started smoking in the middle of the book. “When I light it, I didn’t cough. It actually felt soothing. I know that’s bad in a health class kind of way, but it was true.”-pg 102 His personality was different after that. He always tried to be friendly to anyone he met but if you weren’t nice to his friends he didn’t really respect them after that. His dialogue is very similar throughout the whole book. He is very friendly when he talks and tries to be polite. Charlie is trying to make friends and keep them. He succeeds with some coaching from his english teacher who Charlie calls Bill. Bill gave him books to read and graded Charlie’s reports. “He says that I have a great skill at reading and understanding language.”- pg 9-10. A’s showed on Charlie’s report card but Bill gave Charlie different grades. The books Bill gave Charlie changed his mind about a lot of things. Bill developed Charlie through the whole book.
I always looked at death as such a sad thing that is eventually going to occur to everyone. However, after reading this book, it made me realize death can actually be a beautiful thing. Death allows a person to go to a next life, one where they will be loved and others will be there for them. It was interesting to be able to read about stories that these hospice care workers witnessed themselves. I have experienced a few deaths within my life and I never coped with them very well. After reading this book, I honestly believe I will be able to look at the positive side of death and be able to deal with my emotions better. I can also help others surrounding me deal with a death that they are experiencing. This book was filled with information that I loved learning. For example, I never knew that a dying person can choose a time to die. The thought of this never occurred to me before. I always thought that when it was someone’s time to go, they had no choice. But, a dying person can “put off” passing on until they see a certain person or event that has great significance in their life. Nevertheless, there are still people who will wait to die until they’re all alone in the room. This book makes you think of real life situations and think what you would do in them. Taken as a whole, it was a very in depth book that changes the way you would naturally perceive
The legendary quote “Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold” from the renowned novel “The Outsiders” is something that I hope my children and grandchildren will have the privilege to know and understand. The Outsiders has a strong value of family and friendship. Throughout the book there are many satellite themes and issues. The book is known as a coming of age for adolescence. When I first read this book it was in my 8th grade Language Arts class. The first thing that came to my mind was “hey, isn’t that the movie with that Cruise guy”. I had no clue that the story of Ponyboy Curtis would touch my heart in such a way. I had been going through so much that year, I felt as if I was Ponyboy. Middle school starts were kids finally come to a realization of
he doesn't he even own one. This where you can see how he is different
Allegra Goodman was born in Brooklyn New York in 1967, but she grew up in Honolulu, where her parents moved and taught at the University of Hawaii in 1969. She received a Ph.D. in English Literature from Stanford University. Ms. Goodman began writing short stories in high school, and the summer after she graduated in 1985. Now, she has published two short story collections and six novels. The Other Side of the Island, which was published in 2008, describes how the world was controlled by Earth Mother after eight years of the Flood, and what the Greenspoons, especially Honor, did while they were living in the Colonies on Island 365 in the Tranquil Sea. On one hand, Earth Mother and the Corporation were protecting and providing citizens with the new weather, the Enclosure; on the other hand, they were trying to control everybody from Unpredictable and defeat the Forecaster and his partisans. Ms. Goodman wrote the book while she suffered from the heat wave in Boston. She realized that everywhere around her things are attached air conditioners: her house, her car, and shops. People didn’t live in the real world anymore; she even wished there were air conditioned streets as well. Therefore, she started with that concept: “All this happened many years ago, before the streets were air conditioned. Children played outside, and in many places, the sky was still naturally blue.”
The book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, follows a horrific part of the life of a boy named Ponyboy Curtis. He is what you might call a Greaser, and has had a rough go at it in his life compared to others. It is difficult, but Ponyboy somehow manages to be himself and has the tenacity to stick through it all. He is in a gang with his friends and family and they are loyal to one another no matter what. A rival gang from the Socs crowd, a richer, more refined group, send him and his pals into a whirlwind of trouble and hurt. This book shows on multiple occasions that perseverance is necessary to get through life .
All in all, the heart wrenching and goosebump producing story of “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman takes the reader on a psychological rollercoaster ride. Through the swift use of theme, Gilman ingeniously illustrates the struggles women faced during the nineteenth century.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky has been banned and challenged for many years and for a multitude of reasons. It has been challenged every year since it’s release in different locations. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower was challenged for: drugs, alcohol, the glorification of drugs and alcohol, smoking, homosexuality, offensive
The Outsiders is a novel by S.E Hinton, that follows a young boy named Ponyboy who grows up in a gang. Johnny, Sodapop and Darry help him find how he fits into the world and without them he would have a hard time finding his own identity. Without having a close group of friends he would have a tough way of life, especially with the Socs. Being in a group that you associate with, that have different values to yourself can lead you to disregard your own ethics and do things you wouldn’t normally do, but at the same time this can assist and reinforce your own values…
Author: What you get is a zany, wacky, completely different kind of coming of age realistic fiction story, called The Schwa was Here, by Neal Shusterman. If you like crazy characters, or characters that don’t fit the mold--that are unique and kooky--but still experience the same sort of problems the average kids faces, then you will love this book! Protagonist: Although this book begins with the everyday problems of the protagonist, Ansty Bonano, the book deals with some unlikely situations, as Ansty’s
Gilman’s “Yellow Wallpaper” inspires that sometimes, to find your true self, you must break free restrictions and rules. The narrator looses herself in her decision to give into her husband and society and ceasing to do what she loved. With her decision to rebel and instead continue to write, she begins to find herself and her true freedom.
The role of identity plays an important role in all adolescence which can help shape their future. In psychology, identity is the conception, qualities, beliefs, and expressions that make a person or group. The movie, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, illustrates how teens struggle with identity. Charlie is an anti-social freshman who is befriended by a group of high school seniors, who introduces him to the world of drugs, love, sexulatity, friendship, and lies. His friends play a huge role in his development. Throughout the movie, Charlie was able to build upon his character and develop friendships that gave him a new perspective that life needs, to live life rather than watching it.
Sexuality, friendship, and the desire to fit in while remaining individual are prominent themes throughout the Fly on the wall. The myriad descriptions of butts and other sexual body parts left me both revolted and intrigued. It’s not every day that a writer chooses to risk the sanctity of their writing and credibility to entertain teenagers. However I found the effort well worth it. At first I was fooled by the girly cover and the simplicity of the text, thinking this book wasn’t for me, but after reading it a first time, I wanted to read it again and again. Even still, the book left be thinking and questioning, constantly challenging my perception of the world. Culminating to form a book that I loved and think everyone should read.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming of age film that chronicles the life of a boy named Charlie. Charlie is 15 years old and has just begun his first year of high school. He will give a detailed account of the joys and pains of his freshman year in high school. He begins by writing letters to an unknown stranger, but then, you realize that stranger is you. Through these Charlie tells his story from his perspective. He will experience many highs and lows related to the adolescence phase. The highlights of the paper will focus on the biological/physical, psychological, social, spiritual, cultural issues, as well as his strengths and challenges.
While societal attitudes attitudes may change over time, the challenges associated with the transition from childhood to adulthood remain constant. The ideas of individuality, alienation and loss of innocence fortify the theme of coming of age across the texts The Catcher in the Rye and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The Catcher in the Rye, a bildungsroman novel written by J.D. Salinger in 1951, focuses on teenager Holden Caulfield’s transition from childhood to adulthood in 1950’s America, whereas the film The Perks of Being a Wallflower directed by Stephen Chbosky in 2012 follows teenager Charlie experiencing a similar transition in 1990’s America. Despite their varying contexts, these ideas are presented in both texts through the use the