The Perks of Being a Wallflower question

I definitely think that this should be a required reading for HS students. When we start assuming what is best for kids, it becomes a problem. In the end, they have already exposed themselves to these social issues and problems. We sensitise these issues, it will always be a problem and this is where we start to see everything wrong with the world. We have people making judgments against one another just because that person does not conform to the social norms. We need to normalise these things in order for people to understand the different perspective so that people can become well rounded human beings.

I read this book at a much younger age and didn't quite understand the sexual aspects of the book. But I understood the novel as a whole. Being younger, it did alter my life and my views on American teens. I would say it scarred me, but when I think about it, the novel is so well written I only learned from it. I began to realized how truly screwed up things can be. I began to open my eyes to people like Charlie, and I learned to lend them a hand. Sometimes I like to believe I saved lives by my actions, but I know this isn't true. I look at it as my help towards my friends and I hope that one day they will, in turn, pay it forward. (This book by Catherine Ryan Hyde is amazing and definitely worth your time, but that is beside the point.) I think this book could and should be shared with America's youth. Multiple kids have died or committed suicide in my community over the past couple of years, and I think if they had seen how Charlie got through the suffering, they could have to.

The summer after my son graduated from high school he read this book in one sitting and handed it to me while saying it was probably the best book he'd ever read. Since he's not much of a reader I immediately sat down and did the same thing: read it from cover to cover. I was unable to put it down and and definitely feel that high school age kids are capable of understanding it and relating to it. It's beautifully written and compassionate. Two of my own high school classmates committed suicide, it's much too commonplace among teenagers from coast to coast and everywhere in between and the children at most risk are those who are bullied or emotionally abused. Discussion of just this one aspect of the book, bullying, would benefit 16 and 17 year olds but the other aspects of friendship and loyalty would resonate also. My belief is that Perks is a young adult classic that fits into current high school curricula much better than say, Catcher in the Rye, a 60 year old book about a mentally ill young man in a private elitist boarding school with whom I couldn't even identify 40 years ago.

It's not like the teens haven't already heard/done/experienced everything mentioned in the book. It's not something to be read allowed but alone. Wallflower is something only a mature teenager should read and, it shouldn't be taken from them.

I sure think it is in my old school it was banned when the librarian read it but honestly I think it can be a great way to relate to yourself from a different person. You can learn a lot about yourself through this book, I sure did. Its an honest book with a lot of passion. But it does guide you through some uneasy situations. Its full of wise words and relatable storylines that change the way you see the world. So in conclusion I think that it should definitely be allowed in high schools.

When I began teaching, I had not read it, but was referred to it by my niece. She attended a private Catholic high school where it was required.

I did not require the book to be read, but I put it on a shelf of books that I considered to be ones that make people think. I had a variety of difficulty levels, but for my honors students, even if they didn't have a huge vocabulary (strong students who were also new to English, for example) I did expect strong depth of analysis.

I was told by someone higher up the ladder to have a shelf but never a list, because a student may choose a book (like this one, perhaps) and then when the parents object, the student tells them they "have to read it for school", & then the parent may come to school and complain to or about the teacher. But the students who chose to read it said they thought it was amazing.

Yes, I read it when i was 13 and i cried because i loved it. The book is all teen anxiety and i think more teenagers should read it.

I would not choose this book for my students to read in class. It is interesting and well written, but the themes of drinking, drug use, and sexuality are not ones that are appropriate for a secondary school setting, in my opinion. If parents allow their children to read it on their own, that's one thing, but I'm not going to require a student to read such adult material.

I read this book and watched the movie in seventh grade =)

I loved the movie!! I just hated the book .

I think it's suitable for personal reading but not as required reading as part of a HS curriculum. Perhaps if there is a "social issues" or "coming of age theme" being taught, then it might make sense to include it, but otherwise, what other literary elements would you be using it to teach? Plus, Charlie's "voice" is extremely juvenile, imo. I'm not saying that it has no literary/academic merit at all....just that I would hate to see something that is excellent for teaching certain things properly taken out and replaced just because Perks is more relatable and students might like it. I don't think all of the required reading in HS is SUPPOSED to be "relatable" per se or that students are supposed to like everything that they are assigned to read. Sometimes books are assigned because it contains certain literary elements that the students should be learning about. Perhaps this is just me, but I've actually managed to feel that I've gotten something out of plodding through a book that I hated ("Wuthering Heights"). You don't always have to like and relate to what you read to get something out of that reading experience.

Like everyone else, it shouldn't be banned.

I think it should be 'suggested' reading but not required.(certain themes aren't suitable to every teen.) It is a good book for teenagers not used to reading and learning about the world.
Too often we adults try to "protect" children from the big bad world. A 14/15 year old is quite capable of understanding "adult themes", and no reason to be shielded from something that isn't even very detailed.(because of the letter format.)
And with the increase in suicide, I think it would help teenagers better understand the causes. Which would be a good thing.

Considering its main character is in high school, it's definitely suitable. It deals with real issues that teens are facing and could potentially help them out in life. People need to stop ignoring the problems their kids are facing and realize we don't live in a perfect world. Having this in a book is a good way to do just that.

I just don't understand the whole concept of 'banned books'. Over here in Belgium, you can assign or read whatever you like in school. All of us turned out all right after high school...

¡Sí! Por supuesto que este libro deberían darlo en las escuelas. Creo que es un libro con el que los profesores podrían trabajar muy bien y tomar diferentes aspectos del libro para desarrollar en clase. Además, creo que los adolescentes les puede gustar mucho y creo que es un buen libro para empezar a interesarse en la lectura. Es muy interesante y entretenido y desde mi punto de vista, todos los adolescentes deberían leerlo.

Yes but for individual reading because people have gotten different things out of this book

While I understand that different people are exposed to different things at various ages, I do not feel that this is appropriate for required reading. My 14 year old brought this book home from school as a required reading assignment and thankfully asked if she could stop reading it because she was uncomfortable with the material. Although, based on my glances through the book, I do not see where negative themes are sensationalized, I do feel that it is INAPPROPRIATE for REQUIRED reading. Especially without parental involvement. If such a book is felt to be so valuable from an educational standpoint that it MUST BE READ, parents should be notified. Schools constantly complain that they are being expected to raise children and that they do not get backing from parents. Requiring this type of content to be read without parental involvement just increases that dysfunctional relationship. I felt like my role as parent was not taken into account or respected. I am thankful that my daughter felt comfortable talking to me about it. (BTW she is an avid reader, so it's not like she was just trying to get out of reading)

I think this book is suitable for highschool reading, we actually read it at my highschool (I live in Sweden) and this was a reread for me. Although, I think this book is a special one that you can not walk into with just any mindset, experience, circumstance and so forth. Personally, I have found that I generally hate books given to me to read. Maybe because of that, reading the book becomes homework and not a getaway from school. I think that this is a book that is in need of being read by students who want to read it but not as an assignment.

In the book, Charlie is being given books and he reads them because he wants to do it. His classmates read the books in a mindset that they are schoolwork. Charlies classmates do not read the books as fast as Charlie and I do not think that they enjoy the books as much either.

When I read this book once again for school to refresh my memory of specifics and I found certain parts that could be disliked by others if their mind is not open to take in the book completely. These were generally parts where you need to understand Charlie's mind even though it might be different from your own. These parts were the parts many of my classmates thought were weird and that made them dislike the book. They simply were not in the mindset where they could take in the whole book because they could not see the forrest for the woods.

Personally, I have reread this book many times to understand it more and more, which I do.I think that If you have read the whole book and read it again, you will find that you understand the book more because you understand better why Charlie's mind works as it does and how it works.

When I have recommended this book to others (since it is my favorite book) I have also prepared them and told them about the mindset they need to have to fully enjoy the book. You have to be understanding of the "weird" things because they only make the book a more giving experience. For as with people, books can be read but not understood. Charlie is misunderstood and not like "the norm" but no person is either.

This is a book which you can not only read for pleasure because you only want to read "easy" books. and by "easy" books I mean books which are not sharing complex parts and personal concepts, books which are read and put on the shelf without being thought of a lot and who are instantly liked by everyone because the language and meaning is like the friend you talk to but not the best friend you have known since kindergarten and share all the "weird", tabu and deep parts of yourself with.

In conclusion, I think this is a book that everyone should read or at least be able to read. I think that banning books is a weird concept because you can not keep these "best friends" from people who are ready to read them. I am a reader and I like to think I am an understanding person who also can relate to Charlie and this made the experience of reading tis book a meaningful one. Experiences of reading books can be ruined by bad mindsets and some books are not for everybody. I think that forcing personal things upon people can trigger the phenomenon of disliking books that are "homework".

I do think this is a book that should be read by everyone. If you can understand Charlie you might have an easier experience understanding others. You do not need to like the book and as I said it may not be an easy read but it is a good one. Every high schooler might not be ready to read it at the time but maybe some middle schoolers will or some adults or elders. I was maybe 15 when I read this book for the first time and I loved it more every time I read it. This book was also rejected by some of the 17 year olds in my class when we read it for school. Some things in the book are extremely understood when you have read it at least once.

Go in to reading this book with an open mindset and an understanding mind. If you do not like it, them maybe return to it after some time have passed or read it through and then reread it. Also, this is a book that is easier to read it you are a reader. If you barely read, maybe read a few "easy reads" before you try this one but read it sometime. I promise you, it can be great.

Some books make you grow as a person but only if you let them.






In addition:

This book talks about sex in different ways. Sex is a subject book banners hate in general and they try to "protect the children". But what are you protecting them from by making important subjects tabu? This book talks about masturbation which is a normal part of life which a lot of teenagers already do and there is no reason to shame them for it. But more importantly this book talk about sex in different levels, especially sex without consent. This is a reason for having teens read this book because it teaches about consent. For example, Charlie sees someone be raped without understanding that this person was being raped at first. This is important to show people to teach about what consent and rape is and can be. Also, and maybe most importantly, Charlie was a victim of rape as a child. The book shows what this can do to a person and that it is important to talk about it. PTSD is a topic which we can not let be tabu. By showing teens that sex is a complicated topic and that it is important to talk about things even though they are tabu to make sure that sex is taught to be a act of consent and that rape victims feel they are not alone if they need to talk to someone.

Didn't love this book at all. I don't understand why so many people like it. After reading an article at degreeway.com about it, I realized that this book is not that great. I hope that they will not force our kids to read it.

As a high-school student I would LOVE to do this book in class. It's got so much to offer than it seems to and I really believe that it can be used to educate people about a lot of things. However, I don't know if this is a book somebody should be forced to read, as it might be upsetting to some people...

Yes!!! This is one of my favorite books. I too think this book is very relateable to high school kids. I don't want to be a spoiler, so I'll be a bit vague. The issues in the book that make it a challenged book are the very issues that high school kids and younger face. We may not like it, but it is what it is. The real world isn't composed of "Polly perfects". :) I love it!!

I took a social issues English class my senior year of high school and we read Go Ask Alice and It Happened to Nancy. I personally think that The Perks of Being a Wallflower would fit in nicely with those types of books.

I think it depends on the person.

Rebecca wrote: "I bought the DVD and book together. I saw the movie first and fell in love, then i read the book and cried. I think this book is very relateable to high school kids. I myself am a high school teach..."

I agree that the book is very relatable. I myself have suffered a myriad of mental illnesses and I'm glad they weren't romanticized in this book. However many teenagers who are dealing with these kinds of issues can't handle reading about them as well as an adult who had time to work through these issues. When I read the book, I did not know there were scenes of that nature in it, and during the flash back of the abuse, I got so anxious I had a panic attack. (granted it was at a time I was having 5-10 severe panic attacks a day, but still) I feel like this book should /not/ be banned, but should have a trigger warning.

Rebecca wrote: "I bought the DVD and book together. I saw the movie first and fell in love, then i read the book and cried. I think this book is very relateable to high school kids. I myself am a high school teach..."

I read the book for the first time right after I got of high school. For the next ten years, every time a younger cousin or friends' child went into high school, I gave them the book...to remind them that they could be whatever, as long as they were them.

Yes, this book would be wonderful for high school students, but, depending on where you are, good luck getting it approved by the administration

I do not think it should be required, because, as said above, some people may not be able to handle it and it's not good to force some of the subjects in the book. But I think it should NOT BE BANNED because It's just stupid trying to hide things from kids, because being one myself, you just go out of your way to find it anyway. And It seems like parents/teachers are hiding things fom us and it is a YA book so we're alowed to read it and some of the subjects are very real and very good to read about, although like I said before, only if you want to.

I feel like all the books we read in school are classics, and, while I think reading the classics is crucial to understanding and appreciating the world of books, this is the kind of books students should be reading. Most of the kids in my school hate reading, and, they literally talk about how much they hate reading. They don't know that books aren't always bound by classroom restrictions and old fashioned wording. This is the kind of books kids could be able to relate to and react to emotionally. I feel like allowing students to read this in the classroom would spark more interest and revive the thrill of reading in us younger people.

Now, personally, I read at least two books a week. When I first read this book I was in awe, but i didnt exactly know what to make of it. So, it actually forced me to think, and I literally feel like Charlie is a friend of mine. I understand the thought processes and I feel like through putting myself in his shoes it helped me understand more about myself.

This book could be one for school since it tells a lot about being a teen and growing up. It made me cry and realise my life in one book.

My English teacher didn't allow it, so i guess no. Said it was "inappropriate"

Well.. I think that in some way, this would be perfect for high school children, because in some way people can relate to Charlies feelings. But as said from others before the book is a bit sexual.

Yes. And it should be required reading.
Students should be learning to read and analyze books with real world issues presented in them so that they are prepared to make intellegnet and informed decision in their own lives.

No. It should not be required reading. If a student wants to read it on their own that is fine, or even as an assignment as long as an alternative is offered. But there are some very triggering moments, that while they were not romanticized or sensationalized, can trigger people who have a history of past abuse. I also feel like if this and all books, should have a warning for sexual abuse if it is in the book, but that's a topic for another day.

No book should be taught ever; but all books should be available to all ages always.

I think it could be a great book for high school students because some of the material deals with harsh realities, but nothing "bad" is sensationalized or glorified. Thanks to the letter format, we see things just as Charlie sees them--as a naive freshman encountering the world.

I am teaching this book in an adult education class soon. My students are 17+--but mostly on the young end o the spectrum--and are really looking forward to it since most have seen the DVD. They've had trouble in school and sometimes don't look forward to their reading.

Also a great book for character analysis!

This book should not be a book read in the classroom. When I first read it, I didn't know what it was about and to say the least, I was astonished. I was not expecting this book to be so crued and sexual. This was a good book, but I don't want it to be classroom material where kids are required to read it

This wasn't a good book. Sure, it was interesting. But it was completely forgettable and I wasn't into it. There are so many books that I've already read that have been phenomenal. This does NOT compare. This should never be in high school reading