Review committee issues recommendation on "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
Following a concern raised by a William Byrd H.S. parent about The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a committee consisting of three librarians met to review the merits of the book, as required by Roanoke County Public Schools policy.
At the time of the challenge, the book was available in the libraries at William Byrd and Hidden Valley high schools. Copies of the book were pulled from the shelves during the review process.
The committee recommended that The Perks of Being a Wallflower be restricted to juniors and seniors only. Freshmen and sophomores may check out the book, with parental permission.
"I would like to thank the review committee for their diligence and thoroughness,” said Roanoke County Public Schools Superintendent Lorraine Lange. “The committee gave this concern careful consideration and we feel their recommendation is appropriate,” Dr. Lange said.
As a result of the committee's recommendation, the book will be returned to the library shelves at William Byrd and Hidden Valley high schools.
Below is the complete report from the review committee:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Roanoke County Public Schools Review Committee
A committee of librarians met to review the merits of having The Perks of Being a Wallflower in the William Byrd High School Library Media Center. The book presents characters struggling with issues including, abuse of drugs, tobacco and alcohol, teenage sex by heterosexuals and homosexuals, coarse and vulgar language, abuse, abortion, and rape, which are realities which all American teens face. That realism is one reason the book connects with the modern reader. But there is another reason the book resonates and has value. Charlie, despite horrific events in his childhood, remains optimistic and learns valuable lessons about himself and humanity. Charlie has indeed had to live through his own personal hell, yet had he not been accepted by the other outcasts at his school because he was indeed a wallflower, he may never have found a way forward in life. While his nuclear family loves him and is responsible for the counseling and professional assistance he receives, had it not been for his core group of friends and a caring teacher it is safe to say Charlie would not have survived his first year of high school. The perk of being a wallflower for Charlie is finding the path to his own redemption and is not tied to the various sexual acts or use of controlled substances which are present in the work. Significantly, the negative behaviors engaged in by the characters are not gratuitous; bad behavior is not rewarded. There are consequences for those actions, though if not immediately, by the book’s conclusion. Though it may appear that an overwhelming array of issues confront the characters in one book, it offers hope that one may survive under the worst of circumstances.
In judging the book, careful consideration must be made of the positive reviews and awards by numerous respected and established literary entities and mainstream book vendors illustrating the work’s literary value and age-appropriateness for high school age students. The book complies with the collection development policies of the Roanoke County Public Schools including the six objectives for collection development (Policy Manual 6.40 “Media Selection”).
The committee concedes that the material presented in The Perks of Being a Wallflower is graphic and may not be appropriate for students of all ages and is intended for a mature student. In an effort to be sensitive to the values of the Roanoke County community while preserving the objectives of the media collection of Roanoke County policy, it is the recommendation of the review committee that this book’s circulation be restricted to juniors and seniors, with parental permission required for freshmen and sophomores.
(Last updated 11/12/09)