What states is The Perks of Being a Wallflower banned?

Every page of a book has the potential to open a reader’s mind. The words on the pages and the style of language can be so flawlessly written that the author can persuade their audience into an idea without the readers even realizing it. However, along with any idea a critic follows. Books can provide hours of education and entertainment but when the theme of the book goes against certain beliefs of others the book (or even the author) faces the consequences. These consequences usually involve the book being challenged or just an overall ban. A challenge over a book is an attempt to remove the book from school districts, libraries, etc. The banning of a book is the removal of the book so that no one can read the material. Here in the United States our first amendment states that we have the “freedom of press”. (https://www.nccs.net/amendment-1-freedom-of-religion-speech-and-the-press.php) Though not many countries have this privilege. If a book is written that goes against the values of a country some governments will ban the book everywhere. Even though we have the freedom of press, the banning of books here in the United States is still occurring. The government, parents, organizations, and students have the power to influence others over what they are allowed to read and what they aren’t; in fact it could be viewed as a type of censorship. Books that are most popular are often on the banned list.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower was written by Steven Chbosky. It was first published in 1999 during the month of February. Many people have read this book solely for the

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is on the list of top 10 most frequently challenged books ranking in 8th place. (http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10) This novel was banned or challenged in hundreds of school districts in the United States and in Canada in places such as Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, Washington, and the British Columbia. In the United States during this time coming-of-age novels were highly controversial. Parents were not wanting to know what their high school aged student is dealing with on a daily basis. With the pressure of drugs, alcohol, and sex on students The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a very real and raw depiction of what high school is like. Most parents find the reality to be disturbing and offensive. For most parents fighting for the banning of this novel they used moral and offensive grounds to support their claims. One parents even stated that this novel was tainting with his child’s innocence. (http://patch.com/illinois/glenellyn/parents-object-to-perks-of-being-a-wallflower) However, this is exactly what a coming-of-age novel is supposed to include: the loss of innocence because that is the reality.

So, why is The Perks of Being a Wallflower banned? This novel is written in the point of view of Charlie, a high school freshman. Charlie is a wallflower, meaning he liked to watch other people instead of being involved within the action. In the novel Charlie writes letters to an anonymous pen pal that tell of his struggles, his feelings toward a situation, and his daily activities. These letters structure the novel. Charlie writes these letters because his friend, Michael, committed suicide and Charlie feels depressed and alone as the school year approaches. However, it is never made clear to the readers whether this pen pal is all a figment of Charlie’s imagination or if the pen pal is real. Because of the occurrence of Michael’s suicide and Charlie’s depression that follows this can be seen as only the beginning to the controversial arguments that are made towards this book. Depression and suicide are not topics anyone likes to talk about. Unfortunately, the reality is that every day in the United States 117 suicides occur. (http://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/) Maybe Americans should not be so quick to ignore discussion of suicide and depression preventions.

While at a football game Charlie meets a senior classmate named Patrick who later introduces him to his stepsister, Sam. Patrick is a homosexual who in the novel is caught having sex with another male. For years homosexuality has been the subject of much controversy in politics in the United States. People who are Republican often are against homosexuality whereas the opposite party, the Democrats, support it. Not only is homosexuality a political viewpoint but it is also a religious belief that being gay is seen as a sin. The fact that Patrick was caught having sex with another male has been titled as “pornography” which is one of the main reasons as to why this book has been banned. (http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/03/27/perks-of-being-wallflower-ban-kamloops_n_5045524.html)

Sam, Patrick’s stepsister, is described by Charlie as being a “very pretty girl”, and having a “very nice smile”. (Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Print.) However, readers find out that Sam also has her secrets. When Sam was 11 years old her father’s boss molested her. In high school she was known for getting drunk and sleeping with many guys. The molestation, drunkenness, and the promiscuous behavior described by Sam is yet another “immoral” aspect to this book and is a part of the argument that supports the banning of the book.

Later on into the school year Charlie is introduced to Patrick and Sam’s group of friends. They make him feel more confident and comfortable in school. However, the actions taken by Charlie and his friends are a big reason as to why The Perks of Being a Wallflower is banned in so many locations, not to mention the foul language used by them throughout the book. Because he is trying to fit in with his new group of friends Charlie begins to use recreational drugs such as LSD and marijuana edibles, drinking alcohol, and having sexual intercourse; all of which are glorified to be seen as fun and show no sign of serious consequences. The book also describes a scene that involves Charlie masturbating. His friends are going through struggles such as being cheated on by a significant other, abortion, drug use, alcohol abuse, and sexual abuse. In fact, there is a scene that depicts two people having sex despite one of them not giving consent thus describing date rape. Another scene includes Charlie at a party. One of the students who was also at this party was so drunk he tried to have sex with the host’s dog thus describing bestiality. Close to the beginning of the novel Charlie’s sister is hit on the cheek by her boyfriend thus describing domestic violence.

In his letters Charlie is consistently worrying about his Aunt Hellen who passed away on Charlie’s birthday. He feels guilty about her death because she left to get him a second birthday gift the night of Christmas Eve. She ended up dying in a car accident. Aunt Hellen was the person Charlie cared for most. Later on in the novel Charlie realizes that his Aunt Hellen had sexually abused him as a child. Because of this realization he begins to have a nervous breakdown. However his friends are there to support him and help him through it. Shortly after his breakdown Sam has to leave for college. After this Charlie’s mental state worsens and he must be hospitalized because Charlie attempted to commit suicide. After weeks of therapy Charlie has finally come to terms with the fact that his Aunt Hellen had molested him every week when he was a young boy. At the end of the novel Charlie states that he no longer has the need to write his letters.

Imagine you are a parent of a child that has been assigned this book in the classroom at school. How would you feel knowing your child was reading this controversial coming-of age novel? Depending on the age of your child it would most likely enrage you. But what is a good age for children to start learning about drugs, sex, and abuse? There is no “good age”, there is only maturity and it is the parents’ decision on when they feel their child is mature enough to learn about such issues. Why would a child need to know about the subjects that The Perks of Being a Wallflower brings to the table? But, why wouldn’t they? Now imagine that you are a student that has been assigned this book in the classroom at school. Would you be glad someone is finally telling you how drugs make you feel or how suicide affects people? Growing up is one of the hardest experiences humans face. Students often feel like they know everything about life. But the truth is, no one does. As a society drugs, alcohol, and sex have become more popular in the lifestyles of young people. Children in elementary school are talking (and some even participating) about sex without really learning about it and the consequences that can follow it because the parents feel as if their child has no use knowing about sex. Underage drinking is also an issue that society must deal with. Young people who are as young as 12-17 have tried their first alcoholic beverage by 13 years old. (http://www.camy.org/resources/fact-sheets/prevalence-of-underage-drinking/) In 15-24 year olds suicide is the 11th leading cause of death. (http://www.suicide.org/suicide-statistics.html) 7% of girls in grades 5-8 and 12% of girls in grades 9-12 have stated that they have been sexually abused. 15% of sexual assault and rape victims are under the age of 12. (https://rainn.org/get-information/statistics/sexual-assault-victims)

Books have the ability to teach lessons to anyone with an open mind. Everyone has a stance on whether they support the banning of a book or whether they are against it. The evidence on which The Perks of Being a Wallflower is based on true and real life experiences that most of us have dealt with. We all face it, live through it, learn from it, so why are we so offended by it?

Works Cited

“Bestsellers.” New York Times Bestsellers. Web. 9 Apr. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2012-12-09/paperback-books/list.html#>.

Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Print.

“District 41 Bans ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower'” Glen Ellyn, IL Patch. 2013. Web. 9 Apr. 2016. <http://patch.com/illinois/glenellyn/parents-object-to-perks-of-being-a-wallflower>.

IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 9 Apr. 2016. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1659337/>.

“‘Pornographic’ Book Should Be Banned: B.C. Dad.” The Huffington Post. Web. 9 Apr. 2016. <http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/03/27/perks-of-being-wallflower-ban-kamloops_n_5045524.html>.

“Suicide Statistics – AFSP.” AFSP. Web. 9 Apr. 2016. <http://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/>.

“Suicide Statistics.” At Suicide.org! , , , , ! Web. 9 Apr. 2016. <http://www.suicide.org/suicide-statistics.html>.

“Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books Lists of the 21st Century.” Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books Lists of the 21st Century. Web. 9 Apr. 2016. <http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10>.

“Who Are the Victims? | RAINN | Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network.” Who Are the Victims? | RAINN | Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. Web. 9 Apr. 2016. <https://rainn.org/get-information/statistics/sexual-assault-victims>.

Poster Citations

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