There’s a moment inside Hard plug part 5 When 16-year-old Charlie doesn’t know what to wear to his first gig as a drummer in a band.
He stands in front of his closet, tries on clothes, but throws them away. He pauses and looks at himself in the mirror. In Alice Oseman’s illustration he looks dubious. Pale and gray scars from self-harm can be seen on his arms.
He has two options: wear an oversized sweater or wear a tight T-shirt that shows off his petite figure. This is something he is clear about when seeking treatment for his eating disorder. It would be easier to hide in a sweater. But when his sister knocks on his bedroom door, he breaks away with a big smile on his face. He wears a T-shirt.
Moments like this, small but significant changes, are common in Oseman’s work. That’s why she has become one of the most influential and important writers for young people – because she explores the real issues facing young people today with sensitivity rather than sensationalism. Her LGBTQ+ graphic novels have become a phenomenon—this new penultimate book is a literary highlight—thanks in large part to the success of Netflix’s generous adaptation last year.
Plot Heart plug The stakes are relatively low: the series centers on gay teenager Charlie and his budding relationship with rugby player Nick, who turns out to be bisexual throughout the books. There is also Charlie’s friend, the artist Elle, who is transgender; Tao, whose friendship with Elle turns into love; and Darcy and Tara, a fairly stable lesbian couple.
Essentially, it’s about being yourself and living authentically, with an emphasis on positive LGBTQ+ representation. These characters are ambitious not because they have a lot of followers on social networks or they lead a colorful life, but because they are simple. IN Heart plugYoung people see that you can be strange AND Bright.
The books are aimed primarily at a younger audience and therefore approach serious topics with a light touch. However, it also includes topics such as mental health issues, homophobia, domestic violence and bullying. Oseman’s talent as a writer is to soften the rough edges and make them digestible. She also adds beauty to the story to keep it healthy.
This new episode begins with Nick, who is a year older than Charlie, thinking about how his relationship would be if he decided to go to university far from their home in Kent. Although there are no scenes of characters smoking or snorting Ac (as is common in many young adult books, TV shows and films), the theme of sex plays a large role.
But since this is still a show about college students, things never become explicit. But Oseman deftly incorporates surging hormones and rising sexual tension—especially between Charlie and Nick as they try to navigate their physical relationship—into her work, which is no small feat considering the greyscale illustrations. Oseman still favors simplicity and empty space over intricate detail in her work, but she has put a lot of effort into fleshing out the images and giving them more emotional weight. It is superior to the previous books.
The intimate moments are shot exceptionally well, with Oseman balancing his nerve-wracking moments with age-appropriate segments. There is also a joke: in one of the scenes, Charlie and Nick are discussing something. Exactly has sex (“I guess… sex can be anything,” Charlie says), and in a later scene the character admits that intercourse is not the be-all and end-all, especially for queer people.
It’s the kind of quiet, radical moment—like showing Charlie’s self-harm scars or the scene where Nick buys condoms and lube—that matters. Heart plug I feel so effective. Some may roll their eyes at Oseman’s didacticism, which may seem grim. But it has the potential to teach a 12-year-old gay child something he couldn’t learn anywhere else. What a gift then? Heart plug exists to indicate the path.
Source: I News
I am Mario Pickle and I work in the news website industry as an author. I have been with 24 News Reporters for over 3 years, where I specialize in entertainment-related topics such as books, films, and other media. My background is in film studies and journalism, giving me the knowledge to write engaging pieces that appeal to a wide variety of readers.