The Paper & Hearts Society Book 2: Read with Pride

By Author / Illustrator

Lucy Powrie

Genre

Friends and family

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Hachette Children's Group

ISBN

9781444949254

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

28-05-2020

Synopsis

The second Paper & Hearts Society adventure. Join Olivia and The Paper & Hearts Society gang in this joyful comfort read and celebration of books from Booktuber Lucy Powrie. The perfect book for fans of Alice Oseman, Holly Smale and Zoella.

Olivia Santos is excited for her last year at secondary school. But when a parent complains about LGBTQ+ content in one of the books, the library implements a new policy for withdrawing books. Olivia is distraught - she's demisexual and knows how important it is for all readers to see themselves represented. Luckily, she's the mastermind behind The Paper & Hearts Society book club, and she knows exactly what to do: start a new club, find ways of evading the system, and change the policy for good! With two book clubs to run, exams to prepare for, and a girlfriend, just how long will it be before Olivia burns out? After all, creating a book club and trying to get the #ReadWithPride hashtag to get noticed is going to take a lot of energy.

Sometimes, when you're in too deep, it's up to your friends to look out for you ...

Reviews

The first book in this trilogy introduced us to the group and focused on Tabby during their summer full of bookish adventures. This, the second book, follows Olivia, a high achieving, usually organised, power house as she enters Year 11; and it's not long before Olivia discovers her haven, the school library ('is there anything in the world more magical than a library?') is now under the rule of a new school policy. Following a complaint from a parent the new diktat states that in order to borrow books containing references to LGBT relationships students must have returned a permission slip signed by their parent/guardian. In addition, those books now also come with a warning sticker slapped on the cover. Which also feels like a slap in the face to Olivia.

And so begins Olivia's Year 11. Her goals for the school year ahead were initially straight forward enough: attend extra revision classes to bolster grades, support the library, read, achieve good GCSE results. But after her experience in the library she felt it imperative to over turn the new policy...but this is one goal that needs time, dedication and commitment. Can Olivia do everything?

Not by herself certainly. But with the help of a new group of friends she forms Read With Pride and the revolution begins! With friendship as a central theme the book also deals with mental health as Olivia struggles to keep afloat with both her class work and her campaign. It also deals with the topic of censorship - which, in my experience, I have always found to be a good discussion point.

400 pages / Reviewed by Catherine Purcell