The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age story about a high school freshman named Charlie. Written entirely in Charlie's letters to an unnamed friend, readers experience the entirety of Charlie's freshman year as he transforms from a wallflower to a boy right in the thick of things. The story line is compelling and the characters are complicated. The book moves quickly; it can be read in one sitting (depending, of course, on how much time you have and how quickly you read). 
 Stephen Chbosky brings up a number of complicated issues within the pages of his story: drugs, rape, sex, abortion, death, suicide, abuse, etc. While many high school students deal with these things and more, Chbosky rushes through some of these big, nuanced issues when more detail and time could have benefited them. Overall, though, Perks is an emotionally-charged and compelling read. Due to the subject material, I'd recommend it to high school students or particularly mature middle school students.