BOOK CHALLENGE: BEAT THAT BOOKSTACK - Gillian, Bookazine Staff/ "Heartstopper Volumes 1 & 2" by Alice Oseman⠀⠀ "Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper isn’t just another run-of-the-mill high school romance. Rather, it’s a delicately crafted graphic novel that brings a lighthearted yet surprisingly nuanced perspective to topics like queerness, bullying, identity, and of course, first love. The story starts when Charlie, an outed, anxious over-thinker, meets happy-go-lucky ru...gby lad Nick at their British all-boys grammar school. They quickly become friends, and continue to grow closer as different life problems pop up. It’s a classic YA storyline — but that’s just to start with because Heartstopper doesn’t pull its punches. The soft warm flush of their young love is only cute because of its contrast against the difficult realities of being a young queer kid at an all boys school. Oseman takes care to manage these issues instead of just throwing them in for diversity’s sake or to rehash some tired trope about how traumatic it is to be gay. She excels at breaking down misconceived notions in straightforward yet light-hearted ways. In one scene, a P.E. teacher reprimands her rugby team for speculating about people’s sexuality based on their appearances. In another, an offhand conversation how shallow it is to not see that people might have more depth than just being gay. These moments show how Oseman is able to honestly convey the complexities of being young and queer. She takes the time to create an uplifting story about these two boys, each with their unique journey to a fuller understanding of themselves and each other. It’s an absolute joy to watch Nick and Charlie’s relationship grow, and there are many moments that will remind you of the flutterings of first love. On top of this all is Oseman’s art, an illustrative style that is not only dynamic and expressive, but also partners amazingly with the dialogue. It is this intertwining of masterful art and realistic writing that makes this a book that I will definitely be revisiting again and again. #bookswelove #aliceoseman #heartstopper #bookreview #graphicnovel #bookazinehk #hkig #romance #YA #hkreads See more
