For young readers exploring profound connections and self-discovery, this graphic novel delves into what it means to find your true "soulmates" in life.
A parent might reach for this book when their tween or young teen is struggling with loneliness or the intense social pressure of finding their 'people'. Soulmates tells the story of a girl who believes everyone is connected to their true friends and family by invisible, magical threads, but she can't see her own, making her feel isolated. This touching graphic novel explores themes of belonging, self-acceptance, and the true meaning of connection beyond romance. For ages 12-16, it's a beautifully illustrated, gentle story that normalizes the feeling of being on the outside and shows that meaningful relationships are built, not just found. It provides a perfect catalyst for conversations about different kinds of love and the importance of self-worth.
The core sensitive topics are loneliness and identity (specifically, feeling like one doesn't have an identity or place). The approach is highly metaphorical, using the magical threads to visualize an internal feeling. The resolution is hopeful and secular, emphasizing that self-worth and effort, not fate, create a sense of belonging.
Ideal Reader
A sensitive 13 or 14-year-old who feels left out, second-guesses their friendships, or worries that they are somehow 'less than' because they don't have a huge social circle or a single 'best friend forever'. This reader values deep connection and may be struggling with the transition to high school or a new town.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold. However, parents may want to preview pages 180-195, where Luna experiences her lowest emotional point and isolates herself from others. It's not intense, but it's deeply sad. A post-reading conversation could be valuable to discuss the different kinds of 'soulmates' in one's own life (friends, pets, family) to reinforce the book's theme. The parent hears their child say something like, "I feel like everyone has a person, but I don't," or "What if I never find my best friend?" The parent may have noticed their child withdrawing or expressing anxiety about social situations.
Age Experience
A 12-year-old will likely connect most with the surface-level plot of making friends and the anxieties of school life. An older teen (15-16) will better appreciate the deeper metaphor of the threads, the commentary on social pressures, and the message about self-love being the foundation for all other connections.
What Makes It Special
Among many books about friendship and loneliness, this book's use of a visual, magical-realism conceit in a graphic novel format is its key differentiator. It makes the abstract and internal feeling of being disconnected tangible and visible, providing a unique and accessible entry point for young readers to explore these complex emotions.
Read plot summary
Fourteen-year-old Luna feels profoundly alone at her new school. She clings to her grandmother's story that everyone is connected to their soulmates (platonic, familial, and romantic) by shimmering, magical threads. Luna, however, cannot see any threads attached to herself, reinforcing her belief that she is an outsider. The narrative follows her attempts to find her connections, navigating a new friendship with the pragmatic Sam and feeling envious of Chloe, a girl who seems to be connected to everyone. Luna's journey is one of internal discovery, leading her to realize that the threads are a metaphor and that true, soulful connections are forged through kindness, shared experience, and self-acceptance.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
At the start, Luna is looking for one specific, fated soulmate. By the end, her understanding has changed. Who does she consider her 'soulmates' in the final chapters, and why?
2
The graphic novel uses a very limited color palette for Luna's world, but the threads she imagines are vibrant and colorful. How did the artist's use of color help you understand Luna's feelings?
3
Sam doesn't believe in the threads and offers Luna a more scientific or practical view of friendship. Do you think his perspective helped or hurt Luna on her journey? Why?
4
Luna's grandmother said, 'You don't find a soulmate, you build a soul-full connection.' What do you think she meant by that, and how does Luna's story prove this idea to be true?
