Friendship, love, sadness, fear, and the many pressures of life. These are all parts of real life as a teenager. Should a book with these basic principles be banned from students who are experiencing it themselves? According to some, yes. But, the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is all this and so much more. Therefore, it should not be banned from school libraries, and hidden from young readers. It teaches important lessons about friendship, shows that it is okay to get help to deal with grief or other mental challenges, and explains the importance of accepting who you are by taking control of your life and emotions. To begin, The Perks of Being a Wallflower teaches valuable lessons about being a good friend. The text …show more content…
One parent goes as far as saying that it should be illegal to give this book to kids. An article by CBC news explains the concerns of this parent. It states, “’Last time I checked it is illegal to distribute pornography to minors,’ said Audet, who objects to sections that he says include young people having sex, graphic instructions on how to masturbate and child molestation”. Although the book contains various mature content, it also shows genuine problems in a way that today’s teens can relate to and learn from. The text states, “Something really is wrong with me. And I don’t know what it is” (Chbosky 137). Through all the pressure in high school, countless people compare themselves and think they are not enough, or that there is something wrong with them. Whether it is anxiety, stress, depression, trouble with friends, or even a relationship, everyone has their own issues to manage. It is important to remember that nobody is perfect, and everybody is going through their own personal struggles. A book that can potentially help teens, give them something to think about, and provide a realistic character to relate to should not be banned just because of some questionable subject