We’ve all heard the debate.  Movie or book?  Maybe it’s the librarian in me (or maybe it’s just the truth), but 99% of the time, I prefer the book.  I think it comes with the disappointment of knowing that what comes on the big screen won’t match the details you’ve reconstructed in your head.

However.  Every now and then there comes a movie that’s just as good as the book, mostly because the story is just that good.  When The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky came out, I knew we had a winner.

The YA novel follows Charlie, a shy, awkward teen trying to adjust to high school life.  It’s a season to learn the difference between living your life and watching other people live theirs.

“He’s a wallflower. You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.”

Sidenote:  I don’t like YA fiction.  I enjoy maybe 1 out of every 20 I read; it’s just my personal taste.  But I loved this book.  And the movie.  Real issues are dealt with, not in the flimsy, whiny way that some YA novels are guilty of, but with rawness and truth and honesty.  I fell in love with Charlie.  Every character, really.  There’s a reason this book is popular, and if you haven’t given it a shot yet, it’s time you do.

Thanks for reading!

• The Librarian’s Guide to Notable Nonfiction
• Managing Your Mental Health One Day at a Time 
• Ashley is history
• Coming Soon!
• Fun Finds on the Holds Shelf