Teenagers Share Messages of Hope and Empathy
People usually refrain from writing in library books. Well …let me rephrase that. Usually, people refrain from writing messages to future readers in library books. But then I stumbled upon these messages, from one teenage reader to another, in a library’s well-worn copy of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky.
Teenage readers left encouraging messages for each other in the pages of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.”
Tears pooled in my eyes when I made the discovery. The heavy subjects of the book have caused it to appear on many challenged and banned lists. But for some readers, the story serves as a mirror to their own lived experiences.
Identity and belonging
The story of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is so moving that, in the back cover, anonymous high school students have written hopeful messages to others. The book’s themes of identity, belonging, and surviving trauma inspire them.
Normally, I erase or cover up readers’ writing or drawing in library books as soon as I come across it. In this case, however, I left the words of real teens where it was – to keep their feeling of connection through story and life alive.
As 2026 draws near, I am encouraged by messages of a better future that are coming from the pencils and pens of teens. I am filled with hope that empathy and community are living on in young people.
