Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Krawczyk
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Adventures, romance, growth on Paris school trip.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In HEARTSTOPPER: VOLUME 3, Charlie and Nick continue their romance and meet new adventures and challenges. Nick's happy with the support from his mom after he came out as bisexual, and Charlie's also told his parents about his relationship with Nick. However, the couple aren't sure how and when to tell the rest of their family, friends, and school mates. End-of-the-school-year exam stress and the return of Nick's brother, home from college, complicate matters even more. When Nick and Charlie go on a summer school trip to Paris, they begin to learn a lot more about each other. They also find it hard to hide their relationship from the others. As the trip continues, will Charlie and Nick tell their friends? How will everyone react?
Is It Any Good?
This is a solid and enjoyable follow-up to the first to two books in the series. In Heartstopper: Volume 3, as in the other volumes, endearing, blue-toned illustrations accompany the text. The series continues to stand out for its seamless inclusion of a diverse cast of characters. Complex and fully-developed characters, with a variety of sexual and gender identities, ethnic backgrounds, and family issues, all have unique personalities and interests. Teens will identify with typical high school experiences such as exams, sibling and family drama, romances, and school trips. Readers will enjoy learning more about some of Charlie's friends and the boys' school mates in this installment. This volume deals with some additional heavy topics, compared to the previous two, as both self harm and eating disorders are mentioned.
One small complaint is that all of the main characters become coupled in this volume, even the adult chaperones. Many teens are single or don't date, and this just isn't represented here. Still, it's not hard for readers to get caught up in the continued sweet romance of Charlie and Nick. That is, after all, what most readers are here for.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about communication in Heartstopper: Volume 3. Charlie and Nick discuss some really personal things in this book (cutting, eating disorders, their sexual relationship, etc.) Why is open communication so important in a relationship?
Charlie and Nick struggle with how to tell friends and school mates that they're a couple. Why is this so complicated? How do they tell people or how do people find out?
Charlie's parents are surprised that he's dating Nick, because Nick is a "sporty, laddish sort of boy." When Charlie calls them out for their assumption, they admit they're wrong. Have you ever assumed something about a person because of their appearance or interests? Or has someone assumed something about you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Empathy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Graphix
- Publication date : May 4, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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