When it was published in 1999, Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower became a hit almost overnight. The messages of acceptance and “fitting in” resonated with the world of angsty, isolated teenagers who found themselves on a constant search of who they might be. Though I was only six years old when it was released, my parents bought a copy and anxiously waited for the day I turned 13 — the day I, too, would open Chbosky’s young adult masterpiece. 

What is most notable about Chbosky’s memorable first novel is the resounding accuracy with which the author captures the voice of a boy teetering on adulthood. Charlie is a freshman, and while’s he’s not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. He’s the definition of a wallflower — shy, introspective and intelligent beyond his years, even if not very savvy in the social arts. 

We learn about Charlie through the letters he writes to someone of an undisclosed name, age or gender, a stylistic technique that adds to the heart-wrenching sincerity flooding the story. Charlie encounters the same struggles that many kids face in high school — making friends, facing crushes and relationships, family tensions, experimenting with drugs and sexuality — but he must also deal with his best friend’s recent suicide. Charlie’s letters take on the intimate feel of a journal as he shares his day-to-day thoughts and feelings.

With the help of a teacher who recognizes his wisdom and intuition and his two quirky friends, seniors Sam and Patrick, Charlie mostly manages to avoid the depression he feels. When it all becomes too much, after a shocking realization about his beloved late Aunt Helen, Charlie retreats from reality but makes it back in due time, ready to face his sophomore year and all that it may bring. Charlie, sincerely searching for that feeling of “being infinite,” is a kindred spirit to the generation that’s been slapped with labels and expectations.

In the recent movie adaptation of Perks, Logan Lerman gives a stunning performance as the socially inept Charlie. The film stays very true to the book, which was to be expected as Chbosky both wrote the screenplay and directed the adaptation. The plot begins very much the same as the novel, but that changes when Charlie takes a risk and introduces himself to a flamboyant, outgoing senior from his shop class named Patrick (played by Ezra Miller). Through Patrick, Charlie meets Patrick’s stepsister Sam, another senior with a somewhat slutty reputation played by Harry Potter franchise alum Emma Watson.

Through Patrick, Sam and his English teacher (played by Paul Rudd), Charlie finds his heart lies in literature and writing and begins to see the potential in himself.

The film captures the excitement of being a confused, scared newcomer falling in with an older crew of infinitely cool, self-possessed role models, where Charlie starts as sort of a witness and an outlet for secrets as his identity takes shape. The film also captures the novel’s unique take on the pain and longing of having a crush on a cool and pretty girl who dates only losers and assholes, which, as many guys will tell you, is a tragedy as old as time itself.

Despite being the film’s biggest star, Watson gave the weakest performance and seems a bit out-of-place. Trust me, this assessment breaks my heart more than words can say — I’m a pretty big fan. Maybe she was concentrating too hard on getting her American accent right (which was virtually seamless) or maybe because she seems too smart and clean to be a promiscuous dater of duds. Maybe it’s because the rest of the cast feels so genuine, especially Miller, who does a great job of being funny and fabulous but with his own insecurities and frustrations just below the surface.

There are plenty of movies about how tough high school can be for shy kids and outcasts, but the honesty of The Perks of Being A Wallflower, which I’m sure comes from the deep affection Chbosky has for the characters he created, makes the film feel both fresh as well as timeless by showing that sometimes you need role models to find yourself, but no matter how cool some kids seem, no one has it all figured out and you’re never alone.