I don’t think it’s too much of a surprise when I say that this book has been on the “top ten challenged” lists for a few years (2009, 2008, 2007 …) — because it’s been in and out of the spotlight, especially since it was recently made into a movie.
So what’s it about? 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 year 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 mix 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 he can’t stay on the sidelines 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. (courtesy of Goodreads)
It has been challenged or banned publicly eleven times since 2002, with a number of additional challenges reported confidentially to the Office for Intellectual Freedom. Age-appropriateness seems to guide many of the challenges, with recommendations in those challenges that the book is suited to older teens (junior and senior in high school) rather than younger teens (freshmen and sophomores). However, challenges also focus on these issues: homosexuality, offensive language and sexually explicit.
Apparently, all of this attention has been keeping the book in the public’s eye. The book was made into a movie in 2012, which made $228,359 in its opening weekend.
I found an interesting interview with the author, Stephen Chbosky, here — which includes this bit, “Due to its popularity, however, the book has become a target for anti-obscenity moralists who believe that literature leads to licentiousness. Two school districts have banned Perks, and many more have challenged the novel for its depictions of adolescent sexuality and drug use. In November 2004, a group of Wisconsin parents challenged Perks after a teacher assigned the book (even though the school required parental permission in the first place).” In the interview, Chbosky addresses the issues of the book being challenged — which makes for some interesting reading.
Here’s one of the quotes from Chbosky: “If we didn’t talk about sex and we didn’t talk about drugs, and all these other things that impact teenagers’ lives, literature would still reach teenagers. But the ones having problems in these areas would be totally left in the dark, and would unfortunately be more ignorant.”
Something to think about during Banned Books week.
Leave a comment