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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky sparked controversy because of the graphic contents that are spoken about. The book is challenged for reasons of being sexually explicit, LGBTQ+, sexual abuse, drugs, and profanity.

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Themes like politics, religion, sex, and other social factors can trigger strong reactions for readers. Why Books Get Banned, written by The Christian Century, states, “Fueled by the rhetoric of elected officials, parents turn to national groups which encourage them to run for school and library boards with the intent to ban books they consider dangerous.”

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Charlie, the main character experienced sexual abuse from his aunt. His aunt later passed away on his birthday, creating an even bigger impact on Charlie’s life.  Throughout the novel, Charlie deals with suicidal thoughts. In a letter written by Charlie, he describes it as a feeling that “you wanted to sleep for a thousand years. Or just not exist. Or just not be aware that you do exist (Chbosky 20).”Charlie’s solution to his mental struggles signifies the importance of seeking psychological help.

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Patrick, a friend Charlie makes, is secretly hooking up with Brad, the quarterback of their high school football team. Due to the masculinity Brad’s father has implemented on him, he keeps his sexuality a secret.  This affects Patrick because it makes him feel as if he’s Patrick's “secret lover”. He feels rejected but at the same time says, “at least now, Brad doesn’t have to get drunk or stoned to make love (Chbosky 141)” when Brad later accepts to have a secret relationship with him rather than a casual hook up. Brad’s internalized homophobia shows the struggles homosexuals face for social acceptance.

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 Sam and Patrick help Charlie break out of his shell. The group constantly participated in parties, smoked pot, and participated in “Rocky Horror”, a play with themes of sexuality and gender. Although these activities seem like an act of a rebellious teen, it helped Charlie feel socially comfortable.  Charlie states this feeling as, “in that moment, I swear we were infinite (Chbosky 42.)” In this moment, Charlie feels a sense of freedom, almost like an escape from reality, a feeling he wished he could always feel. This signifies the impact friendship can have as social support to a person dealing with personal issues.  

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is a novel that speaks about current social issues teenagers in our society face. Although the novel goes into harsh topics that people may not feel comfortable reading, it’s a very true reality thar many people must face. The ideal message of the novel is to highlight the importance of accepting others and to find ways to deal with trauma.  