Module 2: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Challenged – The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

1. Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. MTV Books/Gallery Books trade pbk.ed., Movie tie in ed. New York: MTV Books/Gallery Books, 2012. Print.

 

2.  Plot Summary – This first novel by Stephen Chbosky tells the story of Charlie, a young boy on the fringes of adulthood. He’s not the biggest geek in high school, but he’s a wallflower. A wallflower in the sense that he is shy, introverted, and tries not to meddle in other people’s business too much. His life does begin to change when he meets new friends and confronts the realization about his beloved Aunt Helen. Written in a unique style where Charlie writes letters to his “friend”, readers will feel as if they are joining him in his journey of self-discovery.

 

3. Critical Analysis – The Perks of Being a Wallflower is Stephen Chbosky’s first novel and has been on a number of bestseller lists such as, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Publishers Weekly, New York Times, and Washington Post. While reading professional and reader reviews of the title, there seemed to be polarized views about the quality of the book. Publishers Weekly called it “trite,” and Voice of Youth Advocates described the novel as having “[A] disjointed and almost dreamlike quality of a music video.” On the other hand, a reader from Amazon.com, Kailey commented, “This book is horrible because it is sad. It is so sad, you’ll hurt. But it is now my favorite book. It makes you feel.” So, while professional reviews may not see the affect this title has on young adults, the young adult readers themselves felt connected with the events that occurred.

 

That is one of the strengths of this title. Chbosky was able to bring readers to a time in adolescence when you felt that falling in love was the biggest concern and nothing could stop you when you’re with your friends, while on the other end of the spectrum, it the title tries to resolve and deal with real-life events such as, homosexuality, love, abortion, depression, sexual abuse, and social anxiety. As mentioned before, Chbosky’s writing has a dreamlike quality. One example is when Charlie comments on a car ride he recently shared with his friends, “I have since bought the record, and I would tell you what it was, but truthfully, it’s not the same unless you’re driving to your first real party, and you’re sitting in the middle seat of a pickup with two nice people when it starts to rain (p. 33).”

 

The title’s diary-like writing is another strength that helps young readers connect to the protagonist, Charlie. He writes to a “friend” and it feels as if we found his diary randomly in a sock drawer so as we begin to read, we experience everything he is experiencing at the time. It’s near the end of the title’s end that we are hit with the realization Charlie discovers about his Aunt Helen. We begin to feel sadness, but also relief because after this painful event has been unearthed, Charlie can now seek help and move on from the traumatic event. It’s safe to say that most teenagers feel affected by something and perhaps this title will help them confront their fears and try to understand the situation.

 

What I found to be weak in this title is that a few events were cliché. One example is that Charlie has fallen for his friend Sam, but she is with someone else. Another is that he is a misunderstood and quiet teen, but is also gifted in writing which the teacher takes notice of. It’s not to say that the story is boring, but some readers may be able to predict what happens next in the story.

 

Overall, I found this title emotional, touching, and relatable. Young adults have more experience with the subjects in this book than adults would like to believe, but perhaps we sometimes forget that we were all young once and felt more alive than ever. Charlie sums up those special moments in adolescence well when he said, “I feel infinite (p. 33).”

Module 1: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Classics – The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

1.  Hinton, S.E.. The Outsiders. New York: Penguin Group US, 2012. Print.

2. Plot Summary. There are two types of people in the world, according to Ponyboy Curtis, who is the protagonist: greasers and socs (social elites). Greasers always have to watch their backs from the socs and roam the streets at night. Socs are society’s elite few that seem to have a genetic disposition to pick on the greasers, whether it be for a girl, territory, or just bragging rights. Constant street warfare is bound to ensue when these two groups clash. This is exactly what causes the tension in the novel. We find multiple people dead and the two sides will either find a way to make things right or seek revenge.

3. Critical Analysis. The Outsiders is S.E. Hinton’s first young adult novel which was published in 1967 and became an instant classic due to its coming of age tale and ability to convey a sociological struggle within adolescents. It has received awards such as, “A New York Herald Tribune Best Teenage Book,” “ALA Best Book for Young Adults,” and “A Chicago Tribune Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book.” Reviews often focus on the tension and drama S.E. Hinton is able to project through her style of writing. The Chicago Tribune says, “Taut with tension, filled with drama” and Philadelphia Daily News calls it “[A] classic coming-of-age book.” When it comes to the story’s tension, I would have to agree that it will keep readers on their toes. Hinton is able to leave readers guessing about what will happen between the socs and greasers.

While reading reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, which are written by readers of all ages, I have come to notice that many mentioned how they could relate to each character and felt a connection to them. For example, from Goodreads, Brigid commented, “It’s really exciting, and the characters are all really believable. I like how the story was written by a young author who really knew about what she was writing about—she based it partly on the experiences of her friends.” So although this story was set in the 1960s, readers are still able to relate to the subject. Personally, I could relate to the characters because they weren’t perfect and had flaws just as every human being does. Even members of the socs, which are supposedly the social elite, had their own dilemmas as well. I find it more engrossing when an author can weave a story centered on real-life characters and conveys their internal and external struggles.

Reading the story, I did not expect there to be multiple deaths, especially in a grisly manner.  For example, “Dally didn’t die a hero. He died violent and young and desperate, just like we all knew he’d die someday (p. 154).” This statement is just a sample of how Hinton is able to create not just tension, but also a setting of violence and death. Readers will understand that socs and greasers do not take each other lightly and are not afraid to defend their territory.

A weakness to the story is that I found the names Dally and Darry to be very similar. At times, I found it difficult to distinguish who was who because their given names are Dallas and Darrel, but they go by their nicknames.  Another aspect of the story that struck me was how cruel the socs were. Hinton made it seem as if every nice car filled with a group of privileged youth were ready to jump out on a moment’s notice and attack a greaser to the brink of death. This happened a few times in the story and I was hoping for more of an explanation as to why the socs were so cruel to the greasers. Being disadvantaged is one thing, but to seek out greasers at night like a hawk looking for its next meal is another.  Perhaps it was simply because the socs were taught to hate greasers or maybe they were just bored.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and can see how it would strike a chord with young adults. It’s graphic, grisly, emotional, and the characters are flawed, but good-natured. It does, in some ways, glorify violence and gang mentality, but this offers a different insight of those looking for a family. A family perhaps without a mother and/or father, but a diverse group of people that band and protect each other.