
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a young adult coming-of-age epistolary novel by American writer Stephen Chbosky, which was first published on February 1, 1999, by Pocket Books. Set in the early 1990s, the novel follows Charlie, an introverted observing teenager, through his freshman year of high school in a Pittsburgh suburb. The novel details Charlie's unconventional style of thinking as he navigates between the worlds of adolescence and adulthood, and attempts to deal with poignant questions spurred by his interactions with both his friends and family.
Genres
Banned or challenged 17 times across 17 jurisdictions.
Related Laws
This book has been banned or challenged under these laws.
Also flagged by 3 challenger groups
These groups have publicly targeted this book for removal. This is NOT a confirmed ban — it’s a signal that the book is on one or more challenger lists, which often precedes formal challenges in specific districts. See methodology for how we distinguish targeting from enforcement.
Timeline
Unified view of laws affecting this book and jurisdictions where it’s been removed or challenged, in chronological order.
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Mar 25, 2022
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May 3, 2023
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May 17, 2023
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Jun 13, 2023
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Jun 30, 2024
BanremovedBrevard County School District, FL
Removed per FL Stat. 1006.28(2) — reported in the FL DoE 2023-2024 statewide report.
BanremovedIndian River County School District, FL
Removed per FL Stat. 1006.28(2) — reported in the FL DoE 2023-2024 statewide report.
BanremovedLeon County School District, FL
Removed per FL Stat. 1006.28(2) — reported in the FL DoE 2023-2024 statewide report.
BanremovedManatee County School District, FL
Removed per FL Stat. 1006.28(2) — reported in the FL DoE 2023-2024 statewide report.
BanremovedVolusia County School District, FL
Removed per FL Stat. 1006.28(2) — reported in the FL DoE 2023-2024 statewide report.
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Jun 20, 2025
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Jan 5, 2026
LawUtah HB 0029The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky meets statewide 3-district threshold (districts: Davis, Tooele, Washington).
BanremovedDavis School District, UT
Removed by Davis School District and added to the USBE statewide sensitive materials list. Statewide prohibition triggered under HB 0374 (2024).
BanremovedTooele School District, UT
Removed by Tooele School District and added to the USBE statewide sensitive materials list. Statewide prohibition triggered under HB 0374 (2024).
BanremovedWashington School District, UT
Removed by Washington School District and added to the USBE statewide sensitive materials list. Statewide prohibition triggered under HB 0374 (2024).
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Platform availability
11 platforms tracked
Availability at online retailers and library platforms, refreshed by our daily scanner. “Pending review” means the scanner saw the title unavailable but a human hasn’t confirmed whether it’s a stockout or a real removal.
All ban records (17)
Volusia County School District, FL
school · school district
Removed per Florida Statute 1006.28(2) following parent/resident objections during the 2023-2024 school year.
Reported Jun 30, 2024
Leon County School District, FL
school · school district
Removed per Florida Statute 1006.28(2) following parent/resident objections during the 2023-2024 school year.
Reported Jun 30, 2024
Washington School District, UT
school · school district
Removed as 'objective sensitive material' per Utah HB 0029 (2022); statewide prohibition triggered under Utah HB 0374 (2024).
Reported Jan 5, 2026
Elizabeth School District, CO
school · school district
Temporarily suspended by Board Curriculum Review Committee
Reported Aug 12, 2024
White Oak ISD, TX
school · school district
vulgar and sexually explicit
Reported Mar 11, 2026
Tooele School District, UT
school · school district
Removed as 'objective sensitive material' per Utah HB 0029 (2022); statewide prohibition triggered under Utah HB 0374 (2024).
Reported Jan 5, 2026
Fort Worth ISD, TX
school · school district
Under review by committee of master-certified librarians per FWISD book review process.
Reported Aug 28, 2023
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, AK
school · school district
Challenged by school board; reviewed per court order in Case 3:23-cv-00265-SLG
Brevard County School District, FL
school · school district
Removed per Florida Statute 1006.28(2) following parent/resident objections during the 2023-2024 school year.
Reported Jun 30, 2024
Clay County School District, FL
school · school district
Removed per Florida Statute 1006.28(2) following parent/resident objections during the 2022-2023 school year.
Reported Jun 30, 2023
Davis School District, UT
school · school district
Removed as 'objective sensitive material' per Utah HB 0029 (2022); statewide prohibition triggered under Utah HB 0374 (2024).
Reported Jan 5, 2026
Escambia County School District, FL
school · school district
Restricted from Escambia County school libraries pending review under Florida HB 1467 / HB 1069 instructional materials policies. Cited in PEN America v. Escambia County School District (filed May 16, 2023) as part of a pattern of restrictions disproportionately affecting books with LGBTQ+, Black, Brown, and Indigenous authors and stories.
Reported May 16, 2023
Indian River County School District, FL
school · school district
Removed per Florida Statute 1006.28(2) following parent/resident objections during the 2023-2024 school year.
Reported Jun 30, 2024
Manatee County School District, FL
school · school district
Removed per Florida Statute 1006.28(2) following parent/resident objections during the 2023-2024 school year.
Reported Jun 30, 2024
Martin County School District, FL
school · school district
Removed per Florida Statute 1006.28(2) following parent/resident objections during the 2022-2023 school year.
Reported Jun 30, 2023
Merrimack Valley High School, NH
school · school district
Contains controversial topics including descriptions of sexual assault, consensual sex, drug use and abortion reference that can be uncomfortable for some students; committee cited school's capacity to handle future complaints and potential disruption
Reported Dec 2, 2025
New Braunfels ISD, TX
school · school district
SB 13 non-compliant
Reported Jan 1, 2026