The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Author: Stephen Chbosky
Published: Feb. 1999
ISBN: 0-671-02734-4
Price: 14.00
Pages: 213
Genre: realistic fiction, LGBTQ
Plot Summary: Charlie narrates the story through letters addressed to Dear Friend. Charlie is an introvert about to enter his freshman year of high school. He feels very much alone since his best friend committed suicide only a few months earlier. Charlie soon makes friends with Sam and her step-brother Patrick. They introduce Charlie to sex, drugs and the Rocky Horror Picture Show and bring Charlie into their circle of friends. Charlie starts to fall for Sam but Charlie is afraid to take a chance. Charlie is also struggling with his own personal demons. His mental health is slipping and Charlie seems to be struggling even more with the death of his aunt. The book deals with Charlie struggling to find happiness and deal with the demons of his past. Charlie can't seem to step off the sidelines and really live his life.
Critical Review: Since the book is told in letters from Charlie is feels very personal, as if Charlie is expressing his hidden feelings and thoughts. Charlie deals with a lot of heavy issues in his letters, from depression, anxiety, sexuality, drugs, sexual abuse and his struggle to find out who he is. But the story never feels dragged down by these issues due to the characters in Charlie's life. Sam and Patrick are wonderful characters who despite their own faults and struggles support Charlie and help pull him out of his shell. While Charlie is not gay, Patrick is and his struggle with dating a football player who is still in the closet is a well told story. Charlie watches Patrick as he deals with rejection and the fallout from Brad's dad finding out. The scene in which Charlie stands up for Patrick is one of my favorites because I think it really shows that Charlie is no longer a passive observer but rather he is an active participant. This is very much a coming of age story with complex characters and an engaging plot line.
Reader Annotation: Charlie has always been a wallflower, living life on the outskirts. But Charlie can't escape reality forever.
Main Themes: suicide, sexual abuse, LGBTQ, coming of age, love, friendships
Book Talking Ideas: The book talk should be done in letter form, perhaps a letter from Charlie like in the book. There is something very personal about a letter that reader's will gravitate towards.
Issues: The book deals with lots of hot button topics: sex, drugs, homosexuality, sexual abuse and it contains swearing. Patrick is involved in a gay relationship with a closeted teen football player. Charlie was sexually abused by his aunt when he was very young. He feels that he is responsible some how for her death because she was died in a car accident while trying to get his birthday present.
Bibliotheraputic Usefulness: Charlie is a loner who was sexual abused and struggles with his mental health. The story brings up some difficult issues that teens may face. The story also shows Patrick's struggle with being in a gay relationship with a closet teen. Teens will connect with Charlie as he grows and tries to deal with his issues.
Read Alikes: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Author Website: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Stephen-Chbosky/1843916
Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews
Publisher's Weekly
Why choose this book? This book handles difficult issues of suicide, sexual assault, mental illness and friendship. The story has become very popular due to the recent release of the movie based of the book.

Living Dead Girl

Title: Little Dead Girl
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Published: Sept. 2008
ISBN: 1416960597
Page number: 170
Price: $17.99
Genre: realistic fiction
Reading Level: 6th grade
Awards: ALA/YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2009)
Plot Summary: Alice was kidnapped at ten years old when she was on a class field trip. Now, five years later Alice is living with her kidnapper Ray who abuses her sexual and physically. He starves her in a quest to keep her looking like a little girl. Alice is wasting away and feels that she has become a "living dead girl". She spends her days at home wasting away watching talk shows that feature abuse victims. No one around her notices her, they just assume that Ray is Alice's father and pay her no attention. Inside Alice is screaming for help but she fears that if she doesn't listen to Ray he will kill her parents. Now Alice is getting older and Ray wants a new little girl to take in and Alice sees this as her way out. But can Alice really escape Ray or is there no hope for Alice.
Review: The story itself is very bleak and at times a difficult read only because the story that is being told is so horrific that it can be disturbing. Elizabeth Scott has chosen a heavy topic for her book but she tells it with great skill. She shows how trapped and hopeless Alice is and that no one seems to notice her. Alice's story is tragic in that no one around her seems to care or notice the girl who is suffering terrible abuse at the hands of her kidnapper Ray. Alice's neighbors are willing to turn the other way and not try to find out what is going one. Alice herself feels that she is worthless and wishes she were dead so that she could finally be freed from her terrible life and her family would no longer be at risk. The book also points to how Alice feels that people want to blame the victims for their situation. She watches programs where people ask victims of abuse why they didn't speak up but for Alice she is afraid to speak up. The story ends with the reader feeling emotional drained but this is the stark reality of these abuse victims.
Reader's Annotation: Alice lost herself when she was kidnapped by Ray 5 years ago. To the outside world Alice is just Ray's strange and awkward daughter. But behind close doors Alice lives a nightmare of sexual and physical abuse. Now at 15 Alice has become a living dead girl just hoping that the promise of a new girl for Ray will bring about her freedom. But how much hope can a living dead girl have and is it too late for Alice?
Book Talk Ideas: The book is emotionally heavy and is not a book that would appeal to everyone. I think the book talk should focus on what happens in society in front of everyone's eyes but so many people fail to see it.
Issues: The story is very dark and features sexual abuse, physical and mental abuse and violence.
Main Themes: kidnapping, sexual abuse, survival, pedophilia, abuse 
Bibliotherapeutic usefulness: The story tells one that is a difficult read but it shows the horrific plight of a victim of sexual abuse. It also shows how no one seems to come to Alice's aid until it is too late. Society is often not comfortable with talking about these kind of situations but they unfortunately happen. It shows how society tends to blame the victim instead of asking why more people aren't paying attention to what is happening around them.
Read alikes: Stolen by Lucy Christopher and Now You See Her by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Author Website: http://www.elizabethwrites.com/
Professional Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews
Publishers Weekly
Why this book was chosen: The story despite its dark and heavy topics is well written by Elizabeth Scott. It tells a story that is rarely told and really shows the struggle of Alice.

Boy Toy

Title: Boy Toy
Author: Barry Lyga
Published: 2007
ISBN: 9780618723935
Page number: 410
Price: $17.99
Genre: realistic fiction
Reading Level: 6th grade
Interest Level: 10-12 grade
Awards: N/A
Plot Summary: Josh Mendel is not your typical high school senior. Josh was sexually molested five years ago by his middle school history teacher. Even though Josh's identity was suppose to be kept secret everyone knows what happened to him. Now, five years later the teacher that molested him is being released from jail and Josh is still not able to deal with his past. He is haunted by "flickers" of his past as well as the guilt of what happened and what he believes he did. Will Josh every be able to move on or will his past haunt him forever?
Review: Barry Lyga tells a difficult story, but one that often isn't told. Sadly, the story, while fictional is reflective of real life events. Though rarely is this story told in teen fiction. Lyga's story gives voice to a male victim of sexual molestation which is rare in teen fiction. The story deals with a lot of difficult emotions that one feels if they are the victim of sexual molestation. Josh sees himself at fault for what happened despite only being 12 at the time. The flickers give glimpses of what happened to Josh but it isn't until the full flashbacks that the reader knows the whole story of Josh's past and why he struggles so much with the present.
Reader's Annotation: Josh never imagined that his crush on his 7th grade teacher would turn into a secret relationship. His teacher was married and Josh was only 12 but that's what happend and then everything fell apart when his secret came out. It's now 5 years later and Josh still can't seem to put his past behind him especially when his former teacher is about to be released from prison.
Bibliotherapeutic usefulness: Boy Toy shows the complete emotions that come with being sexual molested; guilt, humiliation, depression, and anger. Victims of molestation can relate to Josh's struggles and emotions and perhaps gain some closure by watching Josh slowly heal and overcome his trauma. I also think the story allows people to have a better understanding of molestation victims and the complex emotions they have to deal with over their ordeal. 
Issues: Sexual situations, language, violence
Book Talk Ideas: The story has a kind of ripped from the headlines type feel so the book talk could relate to an actual event that has happened.
Genre: realistic fiction
Main Themes: sexual molestation, guilt, anger, sexuality, relationships
Read-alikes: Heat by Mike Lupica and Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
Author Website: http://barrylyga.com/
Professional Reviews: Kirkus Review
Publisher's Weekly
Why this book was chosen: The story not only discusses sexual molestation but the difference between sex and love and how often the two get confused.