The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

“We accept the love we think we deserve”  That quote has stayed with me since I read The Perks two years ago.

This is my second book in the 2015 Reading Challenge by PopSugar. I can now cross ‘a banned book’ of the list.

When I googled a recent list of banned books on Google (1999-2009 is the first link that came up) the first book on the list were the Harry Potter series. Why?! Harry has nothing bad in it!

So, I picked The Perks off the list because I loved it the first time. I do not understand why it’s been banned. I was told when I uploaded a photo on Instagram of the book that it’s because it promotes depression in teenagers (I don’t even think that’s possible, you can’t tell someone to be depressed and expect them to be), drugs, sex and gay characters. The book was published in 1999, it’s not like any of those topics were controversial then.

For those who haven’t read The Perks of Being a Wallflower you’re really missing out. Yes, Charlie is struggling but what teenager isn’t? He’s starting his first year in high school and he’s already lost two people in his life.

I like Charlie. The first time I read this the ending totally took me by surprise. I didn’t see it coming till Charlie was with Sam and then it all clicked into place.

Aside from Charlie the book has other great characters, Sam and Patrick, some really good quotes and it’s just a really good story.

I never knew The Perks was a banned book but it doesn’t change the way I feel about it. I don’t think this book deserves to be a banned book at all. It’s an amazing story.