The Perks of Being a Wallflower Book Review

What inspires me most in connection to the coming-of-age novel, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is how the main character, Charlie Kelmeckis goes against the chosen one archetype.  The chosen one archetype is typically seen within the young adult fantasy and science fiction genres, though it can most definitely exist apart from them.  The primary idea of this trope is that a certain character is remarkably special.  They have unique talents and abilities that other characters do not, and they end up saving everyone by the end of the story.  They are remembered and celebrated always.  

Charlie Kelmeckis is anything but remembered and celebrated.  In fact, he is a shy freshman who lives in the suburbs of Pittsburgh and leads a relatively normal life.  He lives with his mother, father, and older sister and attends high school.  At the first real party Charlie is invited to, his best friend Patrick makes the point of calling Charlie a wallflower.  He says, “He's a wallflower. You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.”  Charlie is not a hero.  He fades into the background, endlessly taking in the things surrounding him.  In this way, he is like me.  

I have always been very reserved.  I am often on the outside looking in.  I am not special.  Most of the time, when I read a book the main character is chosen.  They are noticed and special and unlike anyone else.  Their lives are extravagant and exciting.  Other characters gravitate towards them.  This bothers me because it projects the idea that ordinary people like me do not have stories worth telling.  The fact that Charlie is a wallflower and leads a very regular life yet is so invaluable to the people around him and when discussing the shared strangeness of growing up, makes me happy.  It inspires me because it tells me that you do not have to be a prodigy for your story to be worth telling.  Your existence does not always have to be bold and loud.  Just being there, even in the background, is enough. It reminds me that I do not have to be the chosen one to be important and do great things.  Existing is hard enough as is without the added pressure of being “special”.  

Charlie and his unique friend group influenced my decision to write about the topic of being chosen.  Specifically, because they are anything but.  In fact, they are considered outsiders and misfits in the social stratosphere.  It was of much interest to me that their dynamic was so “found family”.  

The thing about chosen ones is that they are traditionally thrust into their circumstances.  Everything happens to them rather than because of the active choices that they make.  They do not have to go looking for adventure.  It follows them.  Since Charlie and his friends are rejects, they have to make adventure.  See the beauty in the small and seemingly insignificant.  They were not chosen but they chose each other.