YA literature

Recent Reads: “The Perks Of Being A Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky

/ saraletourneau / 1 Comment

Perks-Wallflower 2012 cover

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
Stephen Chbosky
Contemporary Fiction / Young Adult

Summary:

Charlie is a freshman.

And while he’s not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can’t stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

Rating: 4.25 / 5, and *Unputdownable*

Awwwwwww! Yes, I had to start my review of Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks Of Being A Wallflower that way. I’ll admit that I was already familiar with the story thanks to seeing the film adaptation starring Logan Lerman and Emma Watson (which I adored!). So, I was looking forward to reading the novel when I finally got it – but I wasn’t expecting it would further endear me to Charlie, the introverted, intelligent yet socially awkward protagonist.

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower chronicles Charlie’s freshman year of high school in the form of letters typed by Charlie to an anonymous friend. The novel acts as the character’s diary, revealing Charlie’s observations, secrets, and discoveries about life as well as the darkest corners of his childhood. Readers learn about his anxieties over high school, his family life, and the new friends who open his eyes and change his life forever. The most memorable of those friends are Patrick, a rebellious senior who celebrates and struggles with his homosexuality, and Patrick’s candid, nurturing, and equally free-spirited step-sister Sam, whom Charlie falls for despite her being in a relationship with someone else.

Chbosky’s epistolary format of The Perks Of Being A Wallflower brings the reader so intimately close to Charlie that it’s impossible not to bond with him. You’ll feel his excitement over attending his first party, his disappointment whenever he sees Sam with her boyfriend, his sadness when he recalls his birthday as the anniversary of his beloved Aunt Helen’s fatal car accident. Perks is also an excellent exercise in voice. Charlie’s language is plain and to-the-point; it truly resembles how high school students talk. At the same time, it masterfully explores the depth of Charlie’s intellect and emotions and lifts it all to the surface in ways that readers of all ages can understand and relate to.

I can understand why some people have challenged or been offended by the book’s mature content (mostly drug / alcohol use and sex). However, I wouldn’t place myself among those opponents, even though I chose not to participate in such experimentation as a teenager. Here’s my take: Had Charlie not dabbled in those areas of life, I doubt he would have grown in the way he needed to in order to move on from his past. Sometimes we have to be thrown out of our comfort zone in order to evolve. By the time Charlie writes his final letter, the core of who he is hasn’t changed, but he’s a stronger, more grateful character who’s ready to live life to the fullest.

The only thing I wasn’t crazy about was how the major revelation of Perks was handled. It sneaks up on the reader, without indication that something unspeakable had happened to Charlie when he was younger. Perhaps his younger self didn’t understand what had been going on, and he had repressed those memories until they clawed their way out at the story’s climax. I swear it was approached differently in the film (gradual hints instead of suddenly), but I could be wrong. Regardless, even though I knew the revelation was coming, the book treats it more like a last-minute plot twist than an explanation for some of Charlie’s behaviors.

I knew I loved The Perks Of Being A Wallflower when I finished it, though. It’s the first novel where I wanted to reach through the pages and hug the protagonist – on multiple occasions, and for different reasons. When a story elicits that kind of emotional reaction from readers, you have to applaud the author. That’s the ultimate reason why Perks is a must-have for every YA lit lover’s bookshelf (though the subject matter requires an open mind) and deserving of its recognition as a timeless classic in its genre.

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Deciding whether to buy The Perks Of Being A Wallflower from Amazon? Let me know whether you found my review helpful by clicking here and selecting either “Yes” or “No.”

Recent Reads: “Poison Study” by Maria V. Snyder

/ saraletourneau / 16 Comments

Poison Study cover

Poison Study
Maria V. Snyder
Young Adult / Fantasy

Summary:

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She’ll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace – and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly’s Dust –and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can’t control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren’t so clear…

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Normally I’m a slow reader. I like to take my time with novels, even when I enjoy what I’m reading. But I was so engrossed by Maria V. Snyder’s Poison Study that I finished it in 3 days. Does the word “unputdownable” exist? If it didn’t before, it does now!

Poison Study introduces readers to Yelena Zaltana, a young woman unaware of her origins and about to be executed for murdering her benefactor’s only son. At the last moment, she’s offered a choice: die by the noose, or take on the position as Commander Ambrose’s food taster – and risk potential poisoning each time. As you can tell from the book’s official summary, Yelena accepts the job offer but with additional consequences. The story then quickly morphs into a constant fight for survival for Yelena, from stomaching the food-tasting / poison training to fleeing her former benefactor’s henchmen to simply figuring out who she can trust. In the meantime, she finds herself caught in political mysteries and grappling with the knowledge that her greatest strengths may in fact be magical powers emerging. Not to mention that magic is forbidden in the land where Yelena lives – so if the wrong people discover her powers, she could still be put to death. How’s that for continuously raising the stakes?

Yelena herself is one of the most fascinating literary heroines I’ve “met” in a while. She’s curious, resourceful, observant, persistent to the point of stubbornness – and she’s not without her flaws and emotional wounds. As Poison Study goes on, readers learn more about Yelena’s past and what drove her to kill. The terror in her flashbacks was so palpable that I was frightened for Yelena even though I knew she had already survived the abuse. [WARNING: Some of the torture descriptions are quite graphic.] Thus, Poison Study becomes a tale of rebirth and finding the inner strength to exorcise one’s demons.

What surprised me most about Poison Study is how multifaceted it is for a YA novel. It’s got action, suspense, humor (there are some great laugh-out-loud lines from Yelena’s friends and self-appointed bodyguards Ari and Janco), political intrigue, and romance. That last element comes quite late in the story, but readers can see it coming. Snyder offers peeks of Yelena’s blossoming feelings for Valek, her boss and Commander Ambrose’s security and intelligence chief, as well as hints of Valek’s genuine concern and fondness for her. As a result, the love story never trumps the rest of the plot. Instead, it’s delicately woven in, with moments in the spotlight when necessary. It gives the impression that Yelena’s not head-over-heels obsessed with Valek in a sexual or juvenile way, but embracing real love with maturity and nervousness given the circumstances.

The criticisms I have for Poison Study are few and relatively minor. First, while Snyder shines when it comes to description and showing (as opposed to telling), she does over-show at times. One sentence for a physical or physiological reaction to something is plenty, in my opinion. Also, some of the threats by the novel’s antagonists seemed over-the-top or too melodramatic. Lastly, to echo one critique from my review of Snyder’s Storm Glass, I was confused about Poison Study’s time period. The modern language jarred a bit with the more primitive elements such as forms of transportation (walking, horse-riding) and lack of technology. Maybe it’s an alternate current-day reality?

Otherwise, I absolutely adored Poison Study. Even days after I’ve finished the book, my mind wanders back to the story and I find myself picking it up and re-reading certain passages. I guess I’m going to have to read the entire story again! By the way, don’t let Poison Study’s classification of YA Fantasy fool you. The emotionally raw subject matter – and the deft, graceful manner in which Snyder handles it all – transcends the expectations of typical YA literature. Yes, fans of YA fantasy will love Poison Study, but this book has enough cross-over appeal that I’d recommend it to adult readers of fantasy as well.

Oh, and yes, I plan to read the rest of the Study trilogy – as soon as I get my mitts on the other two books!

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Deciding whether to buy Poison Study from Amazon? Let me know whether you found my review helpful by clicking here and selecting either “Yes” or “No.”

Coming Soon: Come back Monday for my new Grub Street article on manuscript critiques!