About This Book
A parent should reach for this book when their teenager appears to be withdrawing from the world, expressing a deep sense of apathy, or struggling with the feeling that nothing matters. Unlike the lighter tone of its companion series Heartstopper, Solitaire is a raw and unflinching look at the inner life of Tori Spring, a girl navigating clinical depression and the cynical isolation of modern high school. The story follows Tori as she meets the eccentric Michael Holden and investigates a series of increasingly dangerous school pranks orchestrated by a group called Solitaire. This is a mature and honest exploration of mental health that provides essential representation for teens who feel like outsiders in their own lives. It moves beyond typical tropes to show the messy, often quiet reality of being a 'pessimist' and finding a reason to keep trying. Because of its heavy themes, including self harm and eating disorders, it is best suited for older teens (14 and up) who are ready for a realistic, secular, and sometimes dark depiction of the adolescent experience.
