Book of the Month: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Grade Levels: 9+ (Essential for students navigating identity, emotions, and belonging. Recommended for parents and educators, too.)

Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower isn’t just a novel—it’s a lifeline for so many students trying to make sense of their world. Told through the deeply personal letters of Charlie, a quiet and observant high school freshman, this book captures the bittersweet intensity of adolescence in a way that feels timeless, intimate, and achingly real.

As Charlie navigates friendship, love, grief, mental health, and self-acceptance, readers are invited into a space that honors the vulnerability of growing up. Charlie's candid reflections encompass the exhilaration and heartbreak of first love, the deep bonds of friendship, and the haunting shadows of past trauma. His voice resonates with authenticity, capturing the universal longing for connection and understanding that defines our formative years.​ What makes this book unforgettable is its empathy—it doesn’t try to “solve” adolescence but instead sits beside the reader, offering a hand to hold and a voice that understands.

Many of the students we are working with at Veritas, like Charlie, are trying to find their place in the world while balancing school, identity, family expectations, and an overwhelming pressure to “be okay.” Perks reminds us, and our students, that they’re not alone—that even in the most confusing, isolating times, there is hope, friendship, and the power of being truly seen.

As educators, mentors, and parents, we can also learn from Perks. It invites us to slow down and listen more closely, to recognize the moments when a student may be struggling quietly, and to offer compassion before judgment. At Veritas, where we emphasize holistic development and emotional growth alongside academic support, this book aligns beautifully with our values. It encourages authenticity, creativity, and the courage to “feel infinite.”

A must-read for anyone working with or growing up as a teenager, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a powerful tool for empathy-building and personal reflection. It’s the kind of book that stays with you—not just because of what it says, but because of how deeply it makes you feel.