By Aleyshka Barbosa ‘19

The 2012 coming-of-age film directed by the novel’s very own author, Stephen Chbosky, was an adaptation of the 1999 novel of the same name. The novel is based off the life of Charlie, a teenager who sits on the sidelines and observes everything going on around him as a wallflower does. Even so, throughout the book Charlie finds himself in a constant struggle with himself; trying to get up from the bench he has found himself trapped in with the heavy burden of anxiety and social awkwardness.

The movie, while being fantastic and having a similar captivation as the book, as many would agree, does not have the same power of making the reader feel every single emotion. No matter what grade you are in, this book will drag you to your freshman year of high school, seeing things from a different perspective, maybe even opening your eyes to things people overlook every day.

Chbosky does an incredible job, taking the reader through the daily struggles of a teenager. If and when deciding to read this book, it is important to have an open mind, as well as being able to read and face the serious topics the novel discusses. This book teaches the importance of speaking out and being heard, valuing every moment of your life. It teaches how to accept who you are no matter what society might think of you as, and the vital power of friendship especially during high school.

When reading this book, I was expecting the same events and outcome as the movie, but I was completely wrong. It took me two days to finish this book! I read it nonstop, my eyes glued to each page. Reading this book was as if I was on a roller coaster of emotions, never knowing when I was going up or down.

When finishing the book, I was so overwhelmed with emotions that it took me a full day to fully gather my thoughts and tell my friends about it. As dubious as this may sound, this book can be a different experience for everyone, nonetheless it has captivated the mind and hearts of all who have read it.