Author(s): Alice Oseman

Young Adult Fiction

The second novel by the phenomenally talented Alice Oseman, author of Solitaire and graphic novel series Heartstopper – now a major Netflix series.

What if everything you set yourself up to be was wrong? Frances has always been a study machine with one goal, elite university. Nothing will stand in her way; not friends, not a guilty secret – not even the person she is on the inside. But when Frances meets Aled, the shy genius behind her favourite podcast, she discovers a new freedom. He unlocks the door to Real Frances and for the first time she experiences true friendship, unafraid to be herself. Then the podcast goes viral and the fragile trust between them is broken. Caught between who she was and who she longs to be, Frances’ dreams come crashing down. Suffocating with guilt, she knows that she has to confront her past… She has to confess why Carys disappeared…

Meanwhile at uni, Aled is alone, fighting even darker secrets. It’s only by facing up to your fears that you can overcome them. And it’s only by being your true self that you can find happiness. Frances is going to need every bit of courage she has.

A YA coming of age read that tackles issues of identity, the pressure to succeed, diversity and freedom to choose, Radio Silence is a tour de force by the most exciting writer of her generation.

"School Frances is an A student, head girl of her elite school, a talented artist and she is determined to go to university to study English literature. But there is also Real Frances, whose one guilty pleasure is Universe City, an anonymous podcast series about a student detective looking for a way to escape a sci-fi, monster-infected university. So when she is asked to create visuals of her fan art for the show, she is rapt. Then she discovers its creator is her shy neighbour Aled, who is desperate to keep his identity secret and the two develop a close platonic friendship. But inevitably the show goes viral, Aled is “outed” and the fragile trust between them is broken.   Oseman develops relationships so well and captures the characters’ emotions – the loving bond between Frances and her mum is refreshingly angst-free, whereas Aled’s mother is a cruel control freak who has managed to blight the lives of both her children. There are several races and sexualities represented. Aled’s best friend Daniel (also head boy at Frances’ school and her nemesis) is in love with Aled, who in turn describes himself as “demisexual”, while Frances is bisexual and is still haunted by the kiss she gave Aled’s twin Carys who disappeared two years earlier. But it’s the friendship between Aled and Frances that really stands out – Oseman identifies their fears, identity and their capacity to help each other through unhappy times.This is a beautifully written novel that focuses on listening to your inner voice and following your dreams rather than what is expected of you.It’s even better than her debut novel Solitaire which was described by The Times newspaper as “The Catcher in the Rye for the digital age”. Highly recommended for age 14 plus." - Ruth