Apr 23, 2013

Young Reader Review: THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

Today’s Young Reader Review comes from Sarah, who lives in Plano, Texas. Sarah is my first YA reviewer, and I am so excited to post her interview!


Hi, Sarah. Thank you so much for joining us today! Tell us a little about yourself.


Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m 16 years old and am in 10th grade. I’m in band at my school and love music as well as reading.


What types of books do you enjoy reading?

I like all types of books, especially fiction.


What is your very favorite genre?

My favorite genre has to be fantasy because we get to create a whole new world in our heads as we read and we also get to see inside the author’s head and get an idea of their imagination.


I know it is hard to pick a favorite book of all time, but tell us about your current favorite.

Currently, my favorite book is The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. It is written as letters from the main character, Charlie, as he goes through his first year of high school. He meets and becomes friends with some seniors and he learns a lot about himself and the world throughout the year. Charlie is a bit different from all the other students, and the seniors take him in and deem him a “wallflower,” someone who observes the world around them but doesn’t comment or judge. This book is interesting to me because not only does it deal with some topics that could be “taboo,” but the letters are written to you, the reader. It starts out with Charlie telling you that he was told that you could be trusted with his story and it pulls you in. You care for Charlie almost immediately because he is so scared of high school on his first day, and throughout the book you learn about his family, him and his friends, and how he sees the world.


I read The Perks of Being a Wallflower a few years ago and really enjoyed it, too! Are there any topics that you think are overdone in YA books today?

I personally think the topic of vampires and zombies and such are overdone. I know that those are technically fantasy but I stay away from these books because they really are all the same. That’s why I like The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It is different and it makes you think about the people around you and see the world a little differently. I don’t think that there is anything terribly wrong with vampire/zombie/werewolf books, but I see them as all the same and to me they are very typical and boring.


That was a very thoughtful answer, Sarah! Are there any kinds of books that you wish there were more of?

I love it when I come across a book that has a totally original idea in it. I like finding books that haven’t been done before, such as the Pretties series or Maze Runner series (some of my favorites). I know that it is very hard to come up with a totally new concept for a book, so when I come across new stories I really enjoy reading them because they are different and new for me.


Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Don’t discount the classics when you are looking for something to read. I’m currently reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and the stories are so well written. Some of my favorite books are classics that I wish I had read sooner but didn’t because I thought they would be boring. They really aren’t and are a great thing to pick up when you are looking for something to read.


I agree 100%--many of my favorites are classics, too. My all-time favorite book is Pride and Prejudice, and 2013 is the 200th anniversary of its publication!

Thanks again for joining us today, Sarah, and Happy Reading!

12 comments:

  1. Great interview. Sarah's answers were quite insightful. I agree with many of her thoughts, especially "Don't discount the classics!" ;-)

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    1. Thanks, Ann! Sarah really put a lot of thought into her answers!

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  2. Dear Becky, Thanks for having Sarah join you. She has a great view on what kind of books are interesting to read. It shows great wisdom when you can see the worth of the now and the gold of the classics. Happy reading to both of you.

    Celebrate you love of reading.
    Never Give Up
    Joan Y. Edwards

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    1. Thank you, Joan. Yes, I agree that Sarah is very wise! = )

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  3. Thank you, Sarah and Becky, for the thoughtful interview and replies. What a gen of a series you have going here, Becky.

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    1. Thanks, Mirka! I am so glad you are enjoying this series--it is turning out to be so much fun!

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  4. Sarah, it is such a joy to see how much you love reading. Books will be a treasure in your life always. Your thoughts are insightful and well written. Hey, maybe I’ll see a book by you someday!?! Love, Mom

    Thank you Becky for giving Sarah the opportunity to be interviewed! : ) Linda

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    1. You're welcome, Linda! Books are such treasures, aren't they?

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  5. Loved this interview! Yes, don't discount the classics! There are so many news books to keep track of, but there are some great oldies-but-goodies that also deserve our attention. :-)

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    1. Thanks so much, Anna! I am so glad you enjoyed the interview!

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  6. Hi, Sarah.
    I have to say, Classics didn't start out to be my thing, but once you get into them, they really start to become a wonder. One of my favorite classics is Tom Sawyer because he is so much like me!
    Thanks for posting this Young Reader Review to learn more about "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." I liked reading about this book.
    Keep Reading!
    Ethan, age 10

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Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

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