Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
"Heartstopper" prequel is funny, quirky, and dark.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 17 kid reviews
Kids say this book offers a heartfelt yet gritty exploration of sensitive topics like mental health, suicide, and self-harm, making it a powerful read for older teens and mature preteens, particularly fans of Heartstopper. While some viewers recommend it for ages 12 and up due to its mature themes, others emphasize its artistic value and relatability, noting that it might not be suitable for younger audiences who may find the content distressing.
- mental health themes
- suitable for teens
- strong emotional impact
- mature content warnings
- relatable characters
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
One day at school, Tori Spring follows a series of sticky notes that lead to a blog called SOLITAIRE. Tori's not really sure why she followed the sticky notes in the first place, since she would much rather stay in her room with her own blog than interact with the world or the people in it, in any way. Also following the sticky notes is new student Michael, whose enthusiasm for the mystery of Solitaire can't be dampened even by Tori -- and may just be enough to draw Tori into it despite herself. But Tori's got a lot to handle right now with exams, classes, and a future to figure out. She doesn't have room for a silly mystery and a new friend in her life. With all that, plus worries about her younger brother's mental health, she's got more than enough on her plate just getting through each day. How can she possibly be expected to move forward?
Is It Any Good?
Popular YA author Alice Oseman's knack for creating funny, quirky, yet believable characters is well on display in her debut novel, which was first published in 2014. But fans of Oseman's graphic novel series Heartstopper should note that Solitaire is much darker in tone, and readers should be prepared to deal with issues like suicide, eating disorders, mental health, and more. Sometimes narrator Tori's dark outlook, deep cynicism, and complete lack of self-esteem almost defy belief, but she somehow manages to be a relatable character who could help a lot of readers feel like they're not alone. The story moves along at a good pace, and the melodramatic ending is somehow sweetly satisfying.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the strong language in Solitaire. Is it realistic? Does that make a difference in its impact?
How does Charlie's mental health affect Tori and the rest of his family? How do you think they handle it, and how would you handle it?
Have you read any of the Heartstopper books or seen the TV series? How do they compare to this book, and which do you like best? If you haven't yet, would you like to now?
Which character's model humility? Why are some people more private about their successes and failures than others?
Tori is negative about a lot of things, possibly due to depression, but she perseveres and lives her life anyway. What do you think helps Tori keep going when she's sad? How do you think Michel's curiosity helps him learn about, understand, and support Tori?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Curiosity , Humility , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date : May 2, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 18
- Number of pages : 288
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : December 12, 2025
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