Heartstopper: Volume One

Charlie Spring is the story’s protagonist. He is a drummer, openly gay, and is in year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. He lives with his parents, older sister Tori, and a younger brother. Initially, Charlie’s only friend is Tao Xu, but that changes when he meets Nick. Charlie has dark, messy hair, and big bright eyes. He is usually shy and often nervous, wondering whether he messed up or if people like him. Despite his insecurities, Charlie is actually quite popular at school. He achieved this popularity after word got out that he was gay, and he was the brunt of brutal bullying: “Ew don’t touch him. So gross” (99). Charlie stayed strong through all of it and earned a certain respect as a result. Still, the boys on the rugby team are judgmental of Charlie and unsure how to take him. When he and Nick start spending all their time together, the rugby team starts judging Nick as well. They make comments like, “He doesn’t look gay. And didn’t he have a crush on that girl Tara Jones?” (204). At the graphic novel’s exposition, Charlie is seeing Ben, a boy who is not openly gay and who uses Charlie to kiss in between classes.