Radio Silence

Who it's for

Frances narrates the gap between 'school Frances', the head girl bound for Cambridge, and the weird, fannish self she hides, which gives high-achieving, masking readers words for a split they often feel.

Feelings it meets

• Masking
• Perfectionism
• Identity
• Burnout

What it is

Radio Silence is a 2016 young-adult novel by Alice Oseman, published by HarperCollins Children's Books. Frances is a driven student focused on getting into an elite university until she meets Aled, the creator of Universe City, a podcast she loves.

Where to find it

In print; widely available from libraries (Libby/Hoopla, where held) and as an audiobook. Not public domain.

Before you start

Heads up: Emotional abuse by a parent.

Age: Ages 14+

All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players;William Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7