Graham Marks has certainly written an original novel – if it can be called that. The remarkable thing about Radio Radio is that it is written in a screenplay format. The fast pace, the emphasis on dialogue and the use of stage directions is likely to appeal to young readers. Marks seems to be acknowledging the way minds shaped by film, TV, comics and computer games, might engage differently with the traditional novel. The value of the screenplay format is not really in its difference but in the attempt to capture a medium that reflects its subject: much the way poets do.

Radio Radio is suitable for a wide range of young adult readers. This is a story of a specific group of teenage friends whose lives revolve around music and whose friendships are shaped by tensions and loyalty. The villains influenced by gangster films, the backdrop of the underground music industry and a spectrum of criminal activity give the plot its urgency and interest. The dialogue rings true and it treats both the characters and their concerns with respect. The writer’s interest and admiration for young adults is evident and it extends to the reader.

However, the format of the novel also opens up questions that lead those studying English into the depths of interrogating what literature is, should and can be. Pupils can be prompted to ask how writers should approach a multimedia literate audience who are used to accessing narratives through moving, screen based images. For those interested in drama and media it is interesting to ask what is gained by reading a screenplay rather than a novel format and indeed what the difference is in reading a screenplay as opposed to watching a film. Moreover, there is ample scope for creative writing and drama work on the subject and format of the text.

2007-12-28