MAY 2017 - AudioFile
Teen (and adult) listeners will relish every word of British author Alice Oseman’s latest tour de force, narrated by Aysha Kala. Seventeen-year-old Frances Janvier is driven by one goal: getting into elite Cambridge University. Her only distraction is her favorite podcast, the edgy “Universe City.” She’s thrilled when she meets the genius behind this mysterious channel, Aled Last, who asks her to collaborate as an illustrator for the popular podcast. Frances eventually learns that the subplot of “Universe City” provides clues to Aled’s difficult real life, and for the first time Frances realizes the meaning of friendship and loyalty. Kala’s expert narration is a perfect match to the book, which captures angst-ridden teens with authenticity. D.S. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
★ 01/23/2017
Oseman (Solitaire) explores sexual identities, the weight of expectation, and the intensity and fickleness of fandom in a story revolving around a mysterious, Welcome to Night Vale–esque podcast called Universe City. Frances Janvier, a high-achieving but largely friendless British student, has been a fan of Universe City since its first episode, even creating fan art for the show under the online persona of Toulouse. Aled Last, the boy next door, turns out to be Universe City’s creator, and, soon after each realizes who the other is, the two collaborate on the podcast and develop a much-needed friendship. Frances and Aled both identify as queer, and their intense friendship—as well as relationships with their mothers that couldn’t be more different—are central to the story. Oseman gives Frances an honest, insecure, and occasionally meandering voice, as she considers the stresses, joys, and letdowns of her high school existence. Oseman vividly illustrates that the world and its technologies offer opportunities for connection and fulfillment that go far beyond traditional definitions of success. Ages 13–up. Agent: Claire Wilson, Rogers, Coleridge and White. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
Oseman vividly illustrates that the world and its technologies offer opportunities for connection and fulfillment that go far beyond traditional definitions of success.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“An intense, highly engaging, well–plotted story of relationships, explorations into gay and bisexual identities, family trauma, a straight-jacket education system, and, mostly, kids yearning to be their truest selves despite it all.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Keenly intelligent. A smart, timely outing.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Oseman is a master at combining sardonic wit with angst to create believable characters and a compelling contemporary story that will resonate with teens. VERDICT: A top pick for any YA collection.” — School Library Journal
Praise for SOLITAIRE: “A fascinating debut from an author to watch.” — ALA Booklist
“Oseman’s debut could put her among the great young adult fiction authors.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
“Tori’s voice makes this story into a poignant yet blackly funny and even lively emotional journey. A deeply absorbing read.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Oseman proves herself a clever, witty writer.” — Publishers Weekly
“Honest and authentic… with appeal to fans of John Green.” — Bookseller (London)
“In [Oseman’s] punky, depressive, epigrammatic, mordant heroine Tori Spring we have a Holden Caulfield for the internet age.” — The Times (London)
“Intrigue, suspense, and a fairly spectacular climax will appeal to teens asking the big questions.” — ALA Booklist
Bookseller (London)
Honest and authentic… with appeal to fans of John Green.
The Times (London)
In [Oseman’s] punky, depressive, epigrammatic, mordant heroine Tori Spring we have a Holden Caulfield for the internet age.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Tori’s voice makes this story into a poignant yet blackly funny and even lively emotional journey. A deeply absorbing read.
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Oseman’s debut could put her among the great young adult fiction authors.
Booklist (starred review)
An intense, highly engaging, well–plotted story of relationships, explorations into gay and bisexual identities, family trauma, a straight-jacket education system, and, mostly, kids yearning to be their truest selves despite it all.
ALA Booklist
Praise for SOLITAIRE: “A fascinating debut from an author to watch.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Tori’s voice makes this story into a poignant yet blackly funny and even lively emotional journey. A deeply absorbing read.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Tori’s voice makes this story into a poignant yet blackly funny and even lively emotional journey. A deeply absorbing read.
School Library Journal
02/01/2017
Gr 9 Up—British teen Frances Janvier is a study machine, focused on doing whatever it takes to get into Cambridge. Her public persona is academic nerd, but in private, she is a rebel. Frances is a fan of offbeat podcasts, and her favorite by far is Universe City, whose agender main character (who is also the show's creator) goes by the name of Radio Silence. Frances has joined a fandom Tumblr account, using the moniker Toulouse, and occasionally posts sketches that reflect how she thinks the characters and settings might look. When she receives a message from the creator asking if she is willing to provide graphics for the show, she can't believe it. Frances is even more dumbfounded when she discovers that the mysterious Radio Silence is, in reality, Aled Last, who lives directly across the street from her. Likewise, Aled can't believe that his graphic artist, Toulouse, is Frances. They become fast friends and spend the majority of the summer working together on the podcast. But as the start of Frances's senior year in high school and Aled's first year at university approach, a revelation changes their close relationship. With their friendship in ruins and Aled miles away and spiraling into a dangerous depression, Frances must face long-buried fears and desires to find a way to save him. Oseman is a master at combining sardonic wit with angst to create believable characters and a compelling contemporary story that will resonate with teens. VERDICT A top pick for any YA collection.—Cary Frostick, formerly at Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, VA
MAY 2017 - AudioFile
Teen (and adult) listeners will relish every word of British author Alice Oseman’s latest tour de force, narrated by Aysha Kala. Seventeen-year-old Frances Janvier is driven by one goal: getting into elite Cambridge University. Her only distraction is her favorite podcast, the edgy “Universe City.” She’s thrilled when she meets the genius behind this mysterious channel, Aled Last, who asks her to collaborate as an illustrator for the popular podcast. Frances eventually learns that the subplot of “Universe City” provides clues to Aled’s difficult real life, and for the first time Frances realizes the meaning of friendship and loyalty. Kala’s expert narration is a perfect match to the book, which captures angst-ridden teens with authenticity. D.S. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2017-01-17
Two teens connect through a mysterious podcast in this sophomore effort by British author Oseman (Solitaire, 2015).Frances Janvier is a 17-year-old British-Ethiopian head girl who is so driven to get into Cambridge that she mostly forgoes friendships for schoolwork. Her only self-indulgence is listening to and creating fan art for the podcast Universe City, "a…show about a suit-wearing student detective looking for a way to escape a sci-fi, monster-infested university." Aled Last is a quiet white boy who identifies as "partly asexual." When Frances discovers that Aled is the secret creator of Universe City, the two embark on a passionate, platonic relationship based on their joint love of pop culture. Their bond is complicated by Aled's controlling mother and by Frances' previous crush on Aled's twin sister, Carys, who ran away last year and disappeared. When Aled's identity is accidently leaked to the Universe City fandom, he severs his relationship with Frances, leaving her questioning her Cambridge goals and determined to win back his affection, no matter what the cost. Frances' narration is keenly intelligent; she takes mordant pleasure in using an Indian friend's ID to get into a club despite the fact they look nothing alike: "Gotta love white people." Though the social-media-suffused plot occasionally lags, the main characters' realistic relationship accurately depicts current issues of gender, race, and class. A smart, timely outing. (Fiction. 12-16)
