Heartstopper: Volume 1; by Alice Oseman (review)

Fourteen-year-old Charlie Spring is ending a toxic, closeted relationship when he starts a surprising new friendship with a popular star athlete, sixteen-year-old Nick Nelson. Nick’s caring attention quickly draws Charlie out of his shell and onto the rugby pitch, and soon the boys are spending all their downtime together. As Charlie and Nick grow closer, their story unfolds in a series of charming vignettes: playing video games, romping in the snow, wrestling over homework, and meeting each other’s families. The twosome’s adorable relationship is not without its drama, though, as they face down Charlie’s insecurity at falling for a boy he’s sure is straight, Nick’s uncertainty about his own emerging feelings, and pressures from schoolmates who aren’t sure what to make of their potential romance. Originally self-published and available online, this British graphic novel will win readers with its sweet romance, its queer-friendly storyline, and its light-touch relationship drama. Simple drawings in grayscale keep much of the focus on faces and phones, reinforcing a deeply interpersonal connection at the heart of the story, where just a blush or a smiley-face emoji convey so much more than words. Readers familiar with Oseman’s Solitaire (BCCB 5/15) will recognize these formerly minor characters and take comfort in knowing a happy end awaits them, while those who know the online version will appreciate seeing it get the mainstream publisher treatment. New fans, meanwhile, will be pleased to know two more volumes’ worth of story await them. A fine pick for fans of David Levithan, this graphic novel lives up to its heart-stopper title.