“The Perks of Being a Wallflower*” is an epistolary* novel written by American novelist Stephen Chbosky.

    The story takes place in an unknown setting and in the second-person point of view. The main character, a teenage boy named Charlie, addresses letters to an anonymous* friend.

    Charlie is a sincere and sensitive character, who suffers from episodes of depression sparked by sexual abuse* as a young child. His best friend commits suicide before he starts high school, and while starting over he is drawn to a crowd of friends who support his individuality and love for writing, music, and poetry.

    His story contains bits and pieces of any reader’s story. The novel’s style may touch on various teenage topics like experimentation with drugs* and alcohol, sexuality, making friends, family relationships and loss, but it does not dwell on any of these topics. This lack of focus is what makes the story seem so realistic and true to so many teenagers who read it.

    Though a bit extreme at times, the book presents issues to which any teenager can relate.(SD-Agencies)