The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is a novel that reimagines the epic Greek myth of Achilles and Patroclus. It tells the story from the perspective of Patroclus, who becomes Achilles' closest companion and lover. The novel explores their deep bond as they navigate the challenges of growing up, training under the centaur Chiron, and eventually joining the Trojan War. Miller delves into their emotional journey, the complexities of their relationship, and the impact of destiny on their lives.
Wider Than the Sky was an emotional and enjoyable read, with the classic clashing of opposite sisters and the unexpected unity when they’re striving to achieve the same goal. With an emphasis on embracing the LGBTQIA+ community, Katherine Rothschild writes about the shocking experience of two sisters discovering that their late father died while hiding a significant part of his identity.
If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales is a boy band romance that will capture heartstrings. Following the band, Saturday, throughout a tour we see two castmates fall in love and face challenges that come with being queer and being a teenager in the spotlight. Issues of coming out and discovering who you are is presented throughout the novel. Zach and Reuben face challenges from all around them and challenges in their own relationship.
Nick and Charlie is a novella written by Alice Oseman, which is a spin-off of her popular Heartstopper series. Teens Nick and Charlie are now in their final year of school, and they face challenges regarding their future as Nick is going off to university. Oseman’s beautiful artwork once again adds to her strong story-telling, with endearing and engaging characters as well.
Heartstopper Volume 4 continues the love story of Alice Oseman’s characters Charlie and Nick through her expressive graphic novel format. It is an inspiring, tender and engaging story of empathy, understanding, and friendship as the 2 teens navigate their relationship in the face of external pressures. As with prior Hearstopper novels, themes regarding the challenges of identity, mental health and LGBTQIA+ are explored.
Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman is her third installment in this series. It is a captivating and emotionally-charged story of love, acceptance, and personal growth as it follows the main characters, teens Nick and Charlie. The characters are warm, appealing and relatable, with a rockier path to navigate in this story, but again with the telling more special through Oseman’s gorgeous artwork. This novel is another amazing read from Oseman, which left me excited to read the next chapter for Nick and Charlie.
Heartstopper Volume 2 is Oseman’s second graphic novel in this series, and continues to explore the developing relationship between teenagers Nick and Charlie. It is an well-paced, emotional, and engaging story of self-discovery, identify, family expectations and acceptance. Oseman’s artwork is fantastic, with her writing quite powerful and compelling. The LGBTQIA+ themes are again explored in thoughtful and meaningful ways.
Heartstopper Volume 1 is a touching and uplifting graphic novel from Alice Oseman that captures the joys and struggles of first love. It tells the story of Charlie, an openly gay and engaging character, and straight rugby player Nick, from their tentative friendship to blossoming romance with themes of self-discovery and self-identity. It offers an emotional look at what it’s like to be young, gay, and trying to find your place in the world.
Tara Sim's Chainbreaker is the second book in her "Timekeeper" series, and continues Danny Hart’s story as a clock mechanic in a world where time is controlled by clock towers. This novel delves deeper into the politics and time universe established in the word originally introduced in Timekeeper.
Timekeeper by Tara Sim is a young adult fiction novel that explores the concept of time and its impact upon the books’ characters. Set in an alternate Victorian London where time is literally controlled by clock towers, the story follows clock mechanic Danny who is struggling to come to terms with his father's death and the repercussions of a clock tower explosion that has thrown London's time out of sync.
