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Plot Summary

Two high school boys, Charlie and Nick become tentative friends when they sit next to each other in class. Nick is a rugby player and Charlie is a drummer who is a bit more shy and quiet, but is well-liked overall. Charlie develops a crush on Nick, but he doesn’t think that Nick is queer, however Nick is struggling to understand himself. The story is basically a coming-out and coming-of-age story. It’s so lovely and their friendship blossoming into something more is so incredibly sweet and beautiful.

Author Alice Oseman

Alice Oseman is an Asexual author from the UK who is a young and accomplished author and illustrator. They have written several books before their hit graphic novel series Heartstopper. They are involved with the television series to an extent as well! (Wikipedia, 2025)

What Do I LOVE About this book: -Queer Relationships – Plot Twists – BIPOC -LBGBTQ+

I love the art style. It’s absolutely adorable and to my taste completely! I have seen the television series when it first came out before so I knew what the story would be about, but when I read the first volume I was blown away! For some reason I found it to be so much better actually reading it. (Isn’t that always the case??) I feel it sucked me into the world of Nick and Charlie so much more easily. I fell in love with Charlie so quickly. His dimples and his personality feel much more easy-going and a bit more charming than in the tv series. I very much love how they are so into each other without really knowing, understanding or having the words for it – it’s so endearing. To be fair, it’s just like any other first romance. It’s always so scary to make that plunge. To really be in love with somebody else. It’s universal! It gave me all the butterflies reading the words and looking at the beautiful doodles on the pages. I think my heart sang and cried and smiled so many times and it was only volume 1! So very lovely. How can anyone not see that love is love???

Critical Evaluation For the Book:

I do not have any critical evaluations for this graphic novel it is perfect I love everything about it please do not make me critically evaluate this graphic novel! I cannot think of anything!

Creative Uses for A Library Program

This is a great book to discuss in a book group. Specifically for anti-bullying purposes, but also other types of issues are discussed as the books progress. How is coming out as queer handled? What happens when someone wants to keep a relationship a secret? These are all things that happen to middle an high schoolers regularly and are great discussion points.

Speed Round Book Talk

Charlie and Nick are high schoolers who sit next to each other in class and they end up having crushes on each other without really knowing it. They are falling in love in the best way and it’s super cute, but Nick doesn’t really know that he’s queer just yet and has a lot of questions and is confused about his sexuality while Charlie was totally sure that Nick was straight! That all changes with a kiss!

Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation

The big challenges will be the fact that all the main characters in the book are LGBTQ+. How refreshing as it’s almost always the other way around! However I know with parents these days and with this administration it will absolutely cause trouble. Boys kissing other boys is still seen as taboo. Having and implementing the right policies is the only way to fight and prepare for these types of arguments. This is a perfectly age appropriate book series as this is a normal first romantic relationship. Sexual thoughts, feelings, and actions will and do occur as is normal and expected amongst human beings.

Reason for Inclusion:

It is such a good book. I think even reading the first volume is enough of a beautiful love story on its own. Watching someone like Nick figure out and understand that they are queer is perfect. I think it’s scary, difficult, confusing, but also exciting! It’s interesting to see it as someone who is like Nick and not like Charlie. I am in a heteronormative relationship, but am queer so I understand him and his feelings and to see his confusion and also his fear is so easy to understand. I’m also much older and wish I had the internet and all of those things to understand my own feelings growing up. I think that teenagers who are perhaps questioning or wondering what this is like is why I think it’s important to include this kind of story. Coming out is difficult and all the ways are valid.

Title: Heartstopper (2020)

Author: Alice Oseman

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Format:

References:

Wikipedia. (2025). Alice Oseman. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Oseman