The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky
Censorship Status
Banned in Various US schools
Reason: Drug use, sexual content, homosexuality, suicide
A coming-of-age novel about a sensitive teenager navigating high school.
Why The Perks of Being a Wallflower Was Banned
Censorship Concerns
This book was banned for challenging established norms and authority.
Specifically, The Perks of Being a Wallflower was targeted for: Drug use, sexual content, homosexuality, suicide. The book's themes and content were deemed threatening to the social, political, or religious order in Various US schools.
Why Read The Perks of Being a Wallflower Today?
- ✓ Historical Significance: Understand why this book was considered dangerous enough to ban.
- ✓ Intellectual Freedom: Support the right to read diverse perspectives and challenging ideas.
- ✓ Critical Thinking: Engage with ideas that authorities didn't want people to consider.
- ✓ Cultural Understanding: Gain insight into the fears and concerns of different societies and eras.
Other Banned Books You Might Like
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This powerful memoir about growing up Black and queer in America has been targeted by Republican lawmakers in at least 14 states. Johnson's honest discussion of sexuality, identity, and intersectionality has made it a lightning rod in current culture wars. The book's frank exploration of what it means to be both Black and queer challenges readers to understand multiple forms of marginalization simultaneously.
Thirteen Reasons Why
by Jay Asher
Tied for 5th most-banned book in 2024 with 76 bans. This young adult novel about teen suicide has been targeted by Republican parents and school boards who argue it glamorizes suicide and could harm vulnerable teenagers. Mental health advocates counter that it opens crucial conversations about depression and bullying.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
by Jesse Andrews
This award-winning novel about teenage friendship in the face of terminal illness has faced multiple bans and was used illustratively in Connecticut political debates about book censorship. Its honest portrayal of how teenagers actually speak and think about death and sexuality has made it controversial among conservative parents.
Don't Let This Story Be Silenced
Support intellectual freedom by reading the books that challenged the powerful. Get your copy of The Perks of Being a Wallflower today and discover why it's still being banned.
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