Heartstopper, Volume 2

Starred review from September 15, 2020
The sequel to Heartstopper: Volume 1 (2020) continues Nick and Charlie's story as they discover new joys and hardships in their budding romance. Panels framed in diary pages at the beginning quickly recap the previous entry in which the British boys' relationship blossomed from a platonic friendship to something more, culminating in a kiss. But their relationship status--and how Nick, who previously identified as straight, feels about it--remained up in the air until now. This title documents how their relationship morphs into something more tangible and the issues that come along with that evolution. Nick must confront personal confusion and fear surrounding his sexuality while Charlie navigates being in a somewhat secret relationship with someone who isn't yet out of the closet. Illustrated in the same distinctive style as the first volume, the gentle blue shading and the dialogue's handwritten lettering lend a casual, human atmosphere to the story and its characters. Creative transitions from panel to panel and in the gutters of the pages shake up the layout and add artistic flair. Nick and Charlie's lighthearted and tender romance is delightful, and the genuine heart present in the characters makes for a wholesome and uplifting ride. Nick and Charlie appear White; there is some racial diversity among side characters along with positive representation of a trans character. Incredibly lovable from start to finish. (Graphic romance. 12-18)

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October 15, 2020
Grades 9-12 Boy-meets-boy, crushes, bullying, protective friends, and innocent romance fill the pages of this sequel to Heartstopper (2019). Charlie and Nick met at an all-boys school in England, but the second volume picks up after the introductions are out of the way and a potentially unwanted kiss has happened. The boys' relationship is presented in such a heartfelt, gentle way that even an ugly bit of homophobic bullying feels less harrowing than it could. The loose art style is full of lovely details, such embarrassment and romantic blush lines or patterned socks to support a character's mood or style, though text-message exchanges, depicted in white letters on a green background, can be difficult to read. This simple story, sweetly told, is a fast, fun book that can easily be picked up and enjoyed without having read the first, though readers who wish to get ahead can read installments of the webcomic version on the author's web page. A must-read for fans of slice-of-life high-school manga like Nio Nakatani's Bloom into You.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)