The Faint of Heart (book) by Kerilynn Wilson
Bibliographic Information
Title: The Faint of Heart
Author & Illustrator: Kerilynn Wilson
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins
Copyright Date: June 13, 2023
ISBN: 978-0063116221
Page Count: 304
Genre
Graphic Novel - Speculative Fiction, Dystopia, Science Fiction
Reading Level/Interest Level
age: 12-18 years (Kirkus Reviews)
Awards
None currently
Plot Summary
June, the narrator and protagonist finds herself in a world where almost everyone has numbed their heart to emotions. A scientist discovered that if we remove our hearts, we are no longer subject to sadness, anger, and anxiety. The hearts are placed in a numbing solution and are stored in glass jars in a dystopian facility. June is skeptical of this solution even though she seems to be the only one who feels that way until she crosses paths with Max at school. Max had his heart removed, but he is skeptical of the long-term effects of the procedure.
June and Max decide to explore if the procedure can be reversed, but everything is shrouded in mystery. June wants her sister’s heart back in place and Max is suffering from physical pain where his heart was, and he is feeling emotions again. June must make difficult decisions when it comes to saving her sister, her friend, and possibly society.
Author Background
Kerilynn Wilson is an award-winning author and illustrator. She lives in Oregon with her two daughters and husband. She enjoys “weird and wonderful” things while spending time in her imagination that is filled with “flying jellyfish and birds that eat the stars” (Wilson, n.d.).
Critical Evaluation
I loved the deep theme of this book for young adults and older adults alike. Sometimes we just wonder if things would be better if we didn’t feel so much. Young adults who feel things deeply may struggle to keep up with neurotypical tasks in school in the ways that society demands, but Wilson touches on the topic in a beautiful way. The plot felt a little rushed for me. I would have loved to see things develop a little more fully and enjoy it a bit longer. The graphics were beautiful in a haunting way.
Sometimes this seems like it would be ideal.
Creative Use for a Library Program
Faint of Heart can be used as a highlight book for a mental health workshop. The teen librarian can partner with a high school counselor to come up with healthy activities teens can do when they they want to numb their feelings. Additional discussions surrounding reasons how being someone who feels things deeply can actually be a superpower.
Speed-Round Talk
Imagine you can tame your emotions so that you don’t feel things. You can focus on your studies or work, and your productivity soars. Everyone around you believes this is the best way to live. Would you follow suit? June is one of the few left who still has her heart in a dystopian world. Everyone around her has removed their heart to numb their feelings, but there were unknown side effects and now June is trying to save her sister, her new friend, and ultimately the world.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation
I can’t imagine why this book would be challenged.
Reason for Inclusion
I think most young adults will be able to see themselves in this book. It gives a tender perspective on the joys of feeling life fully no matter how much it hurts sometimes. I think humans often try to find ways to numb themselves to feeling things too deeply, and especially in young adults, this can lead to experimentation with drugs or alcohol. The story is a good reminder that numbing the pain away isn’t necessarily the best solution.
References
Kirkus Reviews. (2023, April 24). A fast-paced dip into the possibility of a world without human emotions. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kerilynn-wilson/the-faint-of-heart/
Thoroughbreds [@thoroughbreds]. Olivia Cooke I feel nothing GIP by Thoroughbreds [GIF]. Giphy. https://giphy.com/gifs/thoroughbreds-xUOwGi2Ty7xBhydeuI
Wilson, K. (2023, June 13). The faint of heart. Greenwillow Books.
Wilson, K. (n.d.). https://www.kerilynnwilson.com
Wilson, K. (n.d.). About. https://www.kerilynnwilson.com/about
Wilson, K. (n.d.). About [photograph]. https://www.kerilynnwilson.com/about
*Book Cover Image and book page images are property of the publisher, Greenwillow Books; taken from Amazon.