Books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower

If you liked The Perks of Being a Wallflower, read Speak, The Outsiders, or The Poet X — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes and reading level.

Looking for books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (Young Adult Fiction · 720L · grades 9–12)? It’s most often read for its themes of coming of age, mental health, and friendship. The 10 titles below are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, genre, and reading level, and each linked to the curricula, states, and grades where it’s assigned, with primary sources.

These are reading-level matches, not just topical ones — so the picks stay grade-appropriate for a grades 9–12 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Perks of Being a Wallflower

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Why each is a match

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Speak690L
Shares themes of mental health, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (690L vs 720L). Amazon →
The Outsiders750L
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (750L vs 720L). Amazon →
The Poet X800L
Shares themes of coming of age, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (800L vs 720L). Amazon →
The Fault in Our Stars850L
Shares themes of coming of age, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (850L vs 720L). Amazon →
Monster670L
Same genre (Young Adult Fiction), a close reading level (670L vs 720L), and the same era (1990s). Amazon →
American Born Chinese530L
Shares themes of coming of age, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (530L vs 720L). Amazon →
Four for the Roadgrades 9–12
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →
Shut Up, This Is Seriousgrades 9–12
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsgrades 7–10
Shares themes of friendship and growing up and overlapping grades (7–10). Amazon →
Long Way Down720L
Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and a close reading level (720L vs 720L). Amazon →

Books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower for younger readers (K–2)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps K–2— same scoring, different audience.

  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Shares themes of coming of age and friendship and a close reading level (860L vs 720L).
  • The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey · 720L — Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (720L vs 720L).
  • Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Shares themes of growing up and a close reading level (750L vs 720L).
  • Corduroy by Don Freeman · 600L — Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (600L vs 720L).
  • Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows · 580L — Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (580L vs 720L).

Books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 3–5— same scoring, different audience.

  • Charlotte's Web by E.B. White · 680L — Shares themes of friendship and growing up and a close reading level (680L vs 720L).
  • The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare · 850L — Shares themes of coming of age and friendship and a close reading level (850L vs 720L).
  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Shares themes of coming of age and friendship and a close reading level (860L vs 720L).
  • The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey · 720L — Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (720L vs 720L).
  • Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech · 770L — Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (770L vs 720L).

Books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower for middle school (grades 6–8)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 6–8— same scoring, different audience.

  • The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare · 850L — Shares themes of coming of age and friendship and a close reading level (850L vs 720L).
  • The Giver by Lois Lowry · 760L — Shares themes of coming of age and a close reading level (760L vs 720L).
  • Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech · 770L — Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (770L vs 720L).
  • Holes by Louis Sachar · 660L — Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (660L vs 720L).
  • The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon · 510L — Shares themes of friendship and growing up and a close reading level (510L vs 720L).

Books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 9–12— same scoring, different audience.

  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak · 730L — Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (730L vs 720L).
  • Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card · 780L — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and a close reading level (780L vs 720L).
  • The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger · 790L — Shares themes of mental health and a close reading level (790L vs 720L).
  • Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck · 630L — Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (630L vs 720L).
  • The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie · 600L — Shares themes of coming of age and a close reading level (600L vs 720L).

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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