The Heartstopper phenomenon has inspired an explosion of graphic novels. In Cross My Heart and Never Lie by Nora Dåsnes (Farshore; translated from the Norwegian by Matt Bagguley) everything changes when Tuva starts seventh grade. Her friends have split into rival factions – those who fall in love and those who still play – and when new girl Mariam shows up, Tuva doesn’t know what she feels. For younger teenagers, this is a fresh, heartwarming look at friendship and first crushes, realised in a full-colour diary format, poignantly reflecting the challenges of adolescence.
First love is also under the spotlight in Northern Soul by Phil Earle (Barrington Stoke), a novella with a nod to Sue Townsend’s Adrian Mole books. The life of 14-year-old Marv revolves around football and his mates, until cool new girl Carly crashes into his life. Guided by the ghost of Otis Redding, Marv’s pursuit of his crush is by turns tender and toe-curling, perfectly capturing all the agony and awkwardness of unrequited love.
