The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. How can we discuss books that address serious issues like mental health? How can we make our classroom a safe space?

Teaching Suggestion: The Perks of Being a Wallflower includes a lot of sensitive content, including drug use and sexual abuse. As the instructor, it’s important to create a space where students can come to you if this novel becomes too emotionally difficult or triggering. Discussing this with students at the outset is critical. Let students know that they can talk to you or the school counselor if they have difficulty finishing the novel.

• MentalHealth.gov created a resource to help teachers identify signs that students may be struggling with their mental health.
• Maryville University compiled a list of resources for parents and teachers regarding high school students’ mental health.
• The National Suicide Prevention Line is a 24/7 service that is available at 1-800-273-8255. Provide this number to students.

2. Stephen Chbosky uses an epistolary form as the structure for The Perks of Being a Wallflower. What might be the benefits and drawbacks of this approach?

Teaching Suggestion: Explain that the letters allow readers to understand what the main character, Charlie, is thinking and feeling. We will only get his perspective on what is going on. Explain that this is a coming-of-age story, as Charlie transitions from middle school to high school. Point out how Charlie will use this to confess or talk about things that he wouldn’t usually discuss with people in his life.

• Oregon State University created an introduction to epistolary novels that provides some helpful historical background information.
• The ALAN Review from Virginia Tech includes an article about letter writing in The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Short Activity

Throughout the novel, Charlie mentions several books and songs that he connects with. Ask students to consider a book, song, film, or another piece of popular culture that has made them feel understood, and have them write a brief paragraph about it. Then, have volunteers share their paragraphs with the class, and make a list on the board.

Teaching Suggestion: Music and books are both motifs in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and many of the books that Bill assigns Charlie as extracurricular reading reflect Charlie’s journey as he transitions from childhood to adulthood. To better understand the novel, students should think about texts and music that have made them feel understood.

• The Atlantic published a 2012 article discussing a study that examined how books can change people’s lives.
• The New York Times published several readers’ stories about the books that changed their lives.