Phantom Hearts – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Graphic novel, paranormal, mystery, LGBTQ+.
YA book title: Phantom Hearts.
YA authors: Rosie Talbot and Sarah Maxwell.
Genre: Graphic novel.
Published by: Scholastic.
ISBN: 9780702333408.
Recommended for children aged: 14+ year-olds.
First published: Paperback October 2024.
This children’s book is ideal for: KS3 & KS4 graphic novel fans.
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Our review:
Budding photojournalist Malia feels like she’s living on a precarious tightrope, trying to balance family drama, school pressure, and repeated unrequited crushes on cute, unavailable girls.
“Sometimes I lie in the dark, just begging my brain to be quiet. Everything is so overwhelming but I’m also so restless I can’t sleep. All I want is for everything to just … fade.”
Then disaster strikes when a horrific bus crash kills four of her classmates. And Malia’s dad was the driver.
As rumours begin to circulate that the crash wasn’t an accident, journalists close in, hounding Malia for the truth while her dad remains in a coma. As a true crime podcast devotee, Malia sets out to uncover what really happened in a bid to clear her dad’s name.
Along the way, she is helped not only by new crush Keezy, but also by the ghosts of the dead students, who all seem to have their own unfinished business to resolve.
“All I’ve got to do is solve their murder, clear Dad’s name and send their lost souls off to the afterlife. Simple!”
It soon becomes clear that the fateful bus held a lot of secrets — and that prying into what really happened could cost Malia dearly.
Phantom Hearts is a gripping graphic novel of love and loss. The story explores themes of found family, being true to yourself, and fighting for the truth amidst rumours and social media hype. Malia is a brave, relatable protagonist, and there is a strong LGBTQ+ thread, offering a welcome sense of inclusivity to the tale.
Author Rosie Talbot’s first novel, Sixteen Souls, was a BookTok-inspired bestseller, and Phantom Hearts is sure to find an equally large fanbase. Sarah Maxwell’s detailed black-and-white illustrations give the book an appealing manga vibe that young readers will find captivating.
A trigger warning prefaces the text, as it deals with some very heavy themes, including multiple deaths, references to drug use, and suicidal ideation. Care should therefore be taken when recommending the book to younger readers.
Phantom Hearts is an engrossing graphic novel that will appeal to mature graphic novel readers and fans of Heartstopper and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
Many thanks to Scholastic for the review copy.
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Browse our Graphic Novels for Teens list.
