📚 Banned Book Spotlight: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

About the Author

Stephen Chbosky is best known for this novel, his debut, which came out in 1999. The story struck a chord because it tells truths many teenagers feel but don’t always see reflected in books: growing up, loss, trauma, friendship, self-discovery.

Story in Brief

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is written as letters by Charlie, a quiet freshman entering high school. As he navigates new friendships, first love, and the pressures of teenage life, he also faces deep wounds from his past—trauma, loss, and the silence that follows them. He learns what it means to feel both “invisible” and seen, and to push toward healing even when the road is hard.

Why It’s Banned in 2025

In 2025, the book was one of 419 titles removed from libraries by the Wilson County School District in Tennessee following the passage of HB 843. It was removed “preemptively to avoid potential scrutiny.”

The reasons given: sexual content, LGBTQIA+ themes, profanity, drug use.

Also, in South Carolina, the state Board of Education has removed The Perks of Being a Wallflower from public schools due to objections over sexual content.

Why It Still Matters

Because books like this give space for unseen voices—teens dealing with mental health, trauma, identity, grief. When these stories are banned, it’s not just the book that’s lost. It’s the chance for someone to see themselves, to feel less alone. And in 2025, that chance is still being taken away.