Bibliographic Information:
Title: Heartstopper
Author: Alice Oseman
Director: Euros Lyn
Starring: Joe Locke, Kit Connor, Yasmin Finney
Production Company: See-Saw Films
Streaming Service: Netflix
Copyright Date: 2022
Genre: Romance, Realistic Fiction
Format: TV series (8 episodes)
Reading Level/Interest Level: Rated TV-14
Plot Summary: When Charlie Spring walks into his homeroom and gets assigned to sit next to Nick Nelson, he doesn’t know what to think. Nick is a star rugby player at Truham Grammar High School; why is he being so friendly to a nerd, the only openly gay boy at school? When Nick asks Charlie to join the rugby team, the mystery deepens. Could he… also be gay?? Meanwhile, Charlie’s secret hookup Ben turns ugly after Charlie decides he’s just being used. Everything seems to be changing; Charlie’s friend Elle has transferred to all-girls school Higgs, and his tight group of friends is now just a trio. Will it survive Charlie’s new crush on one of the popular kids?
Author Background: Alice Oseman is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Heartstopper graphic novel, originally a webcomic, as well as a number of YA novels about “teenage disasters” (Oseman, n.d.). She is also the creator, writer, and producer of the Netflix series. She was born in Kent in 1994.
Critical Evaluation: I love this show! It’s unbelievably charming, and wears any potential controversy lightly (while taking LGBTQ issues very seriously). It’s about the issues any teenager faces: how to find out who you are, how to be true to yourself in the face of bullying, how to stand up for what you believe in without putting a target on your back, and perhaps most importantly, how to tell a crush you like them. It tackles the realities of coming out for queer teens with nuance and empathy. Everything from the acting to the casting to the set direction is perfection; even the minor characters sing (shout out to Fisayo Akinade as Mr. Ajayi and Georgina Rich as Jane, not to mention rich, subtle performances from supporting actors Yasmin Finney as Elle and William Gao as Tao). It feels very Gen Z; graphic elements flit across the screen, and a not-insignificant amount of time is dedicated to the dramas of texting. This is definitely a show to binge watch; no wonder it was Netflix’s #5 watched show when it debuted (Wikipedia, n.d.).
Creative Use for a Library Program: Texting is a big part of the drama in Heartstopper. Can you write a short story through text messages? This workshop will engage teens in a language they speak fluently! Bonus points for illustration.
Speed-Round Book Talk: Charlie has a crush on Nick. But he’s the only openly gay boy at school, and Nick is the star of the rugby team. There’s NO WAY he could be interested… right??
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation: Heartstopper, with its straightforward portrayal of gay and trans teens, could easily be a target of challenges, though I haven’t found any documented yet. I would argue that it is a an important representation of the issues queer teens face. It is so wholesome it would be hard for anyone to argue that it’s truly inappropriate for teens.
Reason for Inclusion: It’s so lovely to have such a swoony queer romance with a racially diverse cast. And who doesn’t love British school uniforms?
Want more? Watch the official trailer for the TV show:
And here are some stories Alice Oseman has written about the characters in her books!
Aaaand here are Outtakes and Bloopers from the show! (Can you tell I’m obsessed?)
References
imdb.com (n.d). Heartstopper. Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10638036/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cl_sm
Nicholson, R. (April 22, 2022). Heartstopper review—possibly the loveliest show on tiv. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/22/heartstopper-review-alice-oseman-netflix-tv-drama
Oseman, A. (n.d.). About. Retrieved from https://aliceoseman.com/about/
Wikipedia (n.d.). Heartstopper (tv series). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartstopper_(TV_series)
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