Dette er 1991, og den akademisk overmodne, men sosialt utilpasse Charlie er tilsynelatende usynlig for omgivelsene. Men så blir han oppdaget av et par eldre karismatiske elever. Sammen med den vakre og frilynte Sam og hennes bror Patrick, opplever Charlie vennskap, kjærlighet, gryende seksualitet, fuktige fester og jakten på den perfekte låta. Samtidig introduserer engelsklæreren ham for en verden full av litteratur, som virkelig setter fart på forfatterdrømmene hans. Boken er også filmet og gikk på norske kinoer høsten 2012.
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 mixed 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 Charlie 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.