Heartstopper

A contemporary story about the budding friendship and romance between two boys who meet at a British school, this graphic novel broaches sensitive topics around sexual identity and bullying with the help of illustrations that effectively translate the emotions, inner conflicts, and frustrations of the characters. Suitable for a secondary audience, this novel may be studied in the classroom to explore themes of friendship, identity, stereotypes, and self-exploration. Students may be invited to reflect on and discuss the visual imagery, which may segue into art activities or creative writing opportunities.