The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen is officially out today! Inspired by her science-fiction podcast, The Bright Sessions, her debut follows a fan-favorite couple from the show: Caleb and Adam!
Lauren Shippen’s YA debut is a dual-perspective story following the relationship that develops between popular football player Caleb Michaels and lonely Adam Hayes, which runs parallel to the first few seasons of the podcast! Centering around their own introspective journeys, they’re navigating high school and learning more about themselves!
However, Caleb is Atypical meaning he has supernatural abilities and his is extreme empathy, which means he can sense the feelings of everyone around him and they get amplified through him! However, in the rough wave of high school emotions, Adam’s emotions allow him to find that peace he desperately needs.
His therapist, the mysterious Dr. Bright encourages him to pursue a friendship with Adam and as they grow closer, they learn more about each other and especially their own internal emotions!
On The Booked Shelf, I’ll be recommending 5 audio drama podcasts for readers of Young Adult!
If you don’t know, audio dramas are essentially fiction stories, which are told episodically through audio. They have a full cast, sound design, and are incredibly immersive forms of storytelling.
Also, the beauty of audio dramas is the diversity and variety of stories being told that you can’t really get with any other medium. If your looking for new and compelling stories, check out these podcasts!
1.The Bright Sessions created by Lauren Shippen
Told through therapy session (and other audio) recordings, The Bright Sessions follows therapist Dr. Bright and her patients, who have supernatural abilities (also known as “Atypicals”). As the story unravels, the listener learns more about each of these unique patients and the mysterious Dr. Bright. The Bright Sessions is an incredibly character-driven story that also discusses and explores mental health, government conspiracies, and so much more! If you’re new to the world of audio dramas, The Bright Sessions is the perfect podcast to start with.
2.Girl In Space created by Sarah Rhea Werner
X is a girl alone in space. Aboard her parents research vessel alongside her friendly AI companion Charlotte, she lives out her everyday life continuing their work on the ship. But when a mysterious organization known as Caldwell Enterprises learns of her ship and takes over, she begins to learn more about its crew and its mysterious motives. Girl In Space is a fantastic audio drama if your looking for a thought-provoking story set in space!
3.The Elysium Project created by Natalie Van Sistine
The Elysium Project is set in a near-futuristic US, there’s a mysterious organization, genetics, and mystery! Emma Greyson’s life becomes more complicated when she gets injected with a mysterious formula that gives her telekinetic abilities. But throughout the podcast, she learns how this formula is connected to her father, his top-secret job, and escaped test subjects who are teens just like her.
The storytelling, characters, plot, dialogue–essentially all the elements of this podcast, come together perfectly! The Elysium Project is one of the most cinematic podcasts I’ve ever listened to.
4. Victoriocity written by Chris Sugden & Jen Sugden
Set in 1887, Even Greater London, Victoriocity is a detective comedy drama following detective Archibald Fleet and determined journalist Clara Entwhistle as they team up to investigate a murder, but get tangled up in a conspiracy!
If you love steampunk, clever humor, interwoven with murder mystery, utterly magnificent world building, and a unique cast of characters that perfectly cement themselves in this captivating and sprawling place of Even Grater London, start listening RIGHT NOW you will not be disappointed!
5.Flyest Fables created by Morgan Givens
This anthology-style audio drama focuses on black and brown protagonists who encounter a magical book with their names mysteriously engraved on the cover. Offering the protagonist a fictional character who juxtaposes them, they find the inspiring messages or words they need at that very moment.
They quickly get immersed into a fable that’s much more than it seems upon first glance, . The story of Flyest Fables merges contemporary with fantasy, filled with hope and positivity!
If your a reader of YA and looking for more Audio Drama content, check out my feature Literary Listens!
The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen is out today!
The Booked Shelf 