Its part of what made these characters so unforgettable. Francis and Alex are also super nerdy and I loved the descriptions of how they became friends through their shared neediness. This was the first time I saw the part of my teenage self that would stress herself out over studying to the point of literal insanity in a book and it was great. I also really loved the quirkiness and preoccupation of the two main characters with grades and school work. I was a little confused by how their school system worked because I’m not familiar with the British educational system, but it was easy to catch on. I really enjoyed getting to read a book set somewhere else in the world. The book is set in a small Wnglish town but the characters travel to numerous larger towns and cities, including London. I want y’all to enjoy every twist and turn like I did.Īnother aspect of this book that I really liked was the setting. I’m being intentionally vague in discussing the details so as to be as spoiler-free as possible. I loved the parts of the book that showed the characters filming the podcast, how they discussed and developed the storyline of the show, the representation of the online fandom of the podcast and discovering what the podcast meant to the character who created it. Finally there is representation of depressive symptoms in the book that felt quite strong, especially since they are related to the anxiety and difficulty of transitioning to college, which is a topic I wish was more present in YA.Ĭentral to the plot of Radio Silence is the podcast Universe City, in which an androgynous protagonist is searching for meanping in an unforgiving world. I really like the way that the characters discuss their sexuality and that they are given the agency to describe how they identify and what that means to them in the story. There is bisexual and demisexual (on the page!! My only complaint is that it didn’t appear sooner in the story, especially since I picked up on what was going on pretty early in) representation. Let’s start off with the representation in this book. Also, it’s a boy-girl friendship book where there’s no romance. Overall, this is a book that brims over with hope.
Alice Oseman’s newest YA novel Radio Silence is the quirky, poignant and unforgettable story of two British teens, Frances Janvier and Al ex Last, who make a podcast together. This is one of those books that I’ve read and its characters and messages have stayed with me. If you enjoy books that have queer protagonists, a whole lot of wit, even more heart, media elements and capture the essence of being a nerdy, overachieving teen…well, you’re going to love this book. Radio Silence by Alice Oseman, HarperTeen, 496 pp.Ĭontent Warnings: Emotional abuse, child abuse, depression, performance anxiety, death of a dog
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