The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Chbosky's debut novel and defining coming-of-age work.
Author guide
Stephen Chbosky Books in Order
Stephen Chbosky is an American novelist, screenwriter, and film director. He published his debut novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, in 1999 and followed it with the literary horror novel Imaginary Friend in 2019. He also edited Pieces, a 2000 collection of short stories by emerging writers, and wrote and directed the film adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
young adult fictionliterary fictionpsychological horrorshort story anthologies
Catalog record updated .
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Imaginary Friend
A standalone literary horror novel and his second novel.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (2)
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower
novel · 1999
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. This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a…
- Imaginary Friend
novel · 2019
Christopher is seven years old. Christopher is the new kid in town. Christopher has an imaginary friend. We can swallow our fear or let our fear swallow us. Single mother Kate Reese is on the run. Determined to improve life for her and…
Edited works (1)
- Pieces
edited_collection · 2000
Collects short stories written by winners of MTV's "Write Stuff" competition, expressing change and life's experiences, such as broken engagements, doomed relationships, and reunions between high school friends.
Frequently asked questions about Stephen Chbosky
Who is Stephen Chbosky?
Stephen Chbosky is an American author, screenwriter, and film director best known for writing The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He has also worked in film and television, including directing the novel’s feature-film adaptation.
Where is Stephen Chbosky from, and where did he study?
Chbosky is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the University of Southern California’s Filmic Writing Program.
How did Stephen Chbosky begin his writing and filmmaking career?
He began writing The Perks of Being a Wallflower during his senior year at USC. His first film, The Four Corners of Nowhere, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Sources: cinema.usc.edu (opens in a new tab)simonandschuster.com (opens in a new tab)
Who influenced Stephen Chbosky as a writer?
Screenwriter Stewart Stern became Chbosky’s hero and mentor after Chbosky encountered him at USC. Chbosky has described Stern as a major influence on his career.
What major recognition has Stephen Chbosky received?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower was selected as an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults in 2000. Chbosky’s film adaptation later won the 2013 Film Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.
Sources: ala.org (opens in a new tab)filmindependent.org (opens in a new tab)