Thursday, August 30, 2012

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

First published in 1999, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky has been a must-read title for many teens ever since. The book is narrated by Charlie, an extremely bright, sincere, outside-the-mainstream, ninth grader (the Wallflower), who tells the intimate story of his high school freshman year in letters to an anonymous friend. Prone to depression and bouts of anxiety, Charlie finds acceptance with a group of high school seniors.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower has now been made into a much-anticipated movie, written and directed by Stephen Chbosky. Scheduled for release on September 21st, the film stars Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & the Olympians), Ezra Miller (We Need to Talk About Kevin), and Emma Watson (best known for her role as Hermione in the Harry Potter movies). Watson plays Sam, who guides
Charlie (Logan Lerman) through the pitfalls of trying to fit into the complicated and confusing world of high school.

As the release for the movie approaches, demand for the book has increased. If you find yourself on a waiting list for “Perks”, or if you have already read the book and are looking for other edgy, contemporary fiction books about the struggles of high schoolers, you might try some of the following titles. For further suggestions, just stop by the Reader Services desk. We have lots of ideas.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
When her best friend, whom she secretly loves, betrays her and then dies under mysterious circumstances, high school senior Vera Dietz struggles with secrets that could help clear his name.

Looking for Alaska by John Green
Sixteen-year-old Miles' first year at Culver Creek Preparatory School in Alabama includes good friends and great pranks, but is defined by the search for answers about life and death after a fatal car crash.

Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas
Having failed English, eighteen-year-old Steve York must generate a paper to get credit and chooses to write about his years in high school, during which he experienced his first love and struggled with family relationships.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
The daily class discussions about the nature of human-kind, the existence of God, abortion, organized religion, suicide and other contemporary issues serve as a backdrop for a high-school senior's attempt to answer a friend's dramatic cry for help.

No comments:

Post a Comment