Hannah Montana meets Heartstopper in this story of a teen pop star on the run from fame who finds family, love and gender euphoria when they become entangled with a local band.
Seventeen-year-old pop sensation Sasha may be famous, but they’ve always kept a layer of anonymity by covering their face to perform. Facing pressure to unmask in public, Sasha runs away to a nowhere midwestern city, planning to finish senior year and come out as nonbinary away from the limelight. But their plan falters from the moment they meet Wavelength, an alt-rock band, and their lead singer.
Lillian is struggling to keep the band together, caught in a mess of lyrics, late-night texts and ill-conceived love notes. She’s torn between feelings for her ex-girlfriend (and ex-bandmember) and her new infatuation with Sasha. Maybe this stranger is the new singer and the new love she’s looking for — even though Sasha’s stories don’t seem to quite add up.
If a whisper of Sasha’s fame gets out, their new life is over. Sasha’s manager is tracking them down, Wavelength is on the rise, and everyone’s hearts are in the mosh pit. Turn off the houselights. The band’s counting in.
Key Text Features
chapters
dialogue
lyrics
Hannah Montana meets Heartstopper in this story of a teen pop star on the run from fame who finds family, love and gender euphoria when they become entangled with a local band.
Seventeen-year-old pop sensation Sasha may be famous, but they’ve always kept a layer of anonymity by covering their face to perform. Facing pressure to unmask in public, Sasha runs away to a nowhere midwestern city, planning to finish senior year and come out as nonbinary away from the limelight. But their plan falters from the moment they meet Wavelength, an alt-rock band, and their lead singer.
Lillian is struggling to keep the band together, caught in a mess of lyrics, late-night texts and ill-conceived love notes. She’s torn between feelings for her ex-girlfriend (and ex-bandmember) and her new infatuation with Sasha. Maybe this stranger is the new singer and the new love she’s looking for — even though Sasha’s stories don’t seem to quite add up.
If a whisper of Sasha’s fame gets out, their new life is over. Sasha’s manager is tracking them down, Wavelength is on the rise, and everyone’s hearts are in the mosh pit. Turn off the houselights. The band’s counting in.
Key Text Features
chapters
dialogue
lyrics
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Oct 7, 2025 |
| Specifications | 408 pages | 5.5 in x 8.5 in |
| Keywords | fame; celebrity; California; Hollywood; child star; exploitation; abuse of power; teenage drama; social media; texting; Winnipeg; midwest; moving; running away; starting again and starting over; secret life; secret identity; Heartstopper; Disney Channel; DCOM Disney Channel Original Movie; Hannah Montana; Miley Cyrus; Devi Lovato; queer teens; |
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Supporting Resources
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Excerpt |
| Written By |
CALE PLETT (they/them) is a nonbinary, genderfluid writer from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Their short fiction and poetry have been published in journals across Canada. Cale emphasizes diverse queer representation in settings where LGBTQ+ characters can exist safely within their identities. Wavelength is their publishing debut, with their second YA novel, The Saw Mouth, forthcoming in 2026. Cale has attended the Emerging Writers Residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and is a Lambda Literary fellow. |
| Written By |
|
CALE PLETT (they/them) is a nonbinary, genderfluid writer from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Their short fiction and poetry have been published in journals across Canada. Cale emphasizes diverse queer representation in settings where LGBTQ+ characters can exist safely within their identities. Wavelength is their publishing debut, with their second YA novel, The Saw Mouth, forthcoming in 2026. Cale has attended the Emerging Writers Residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and is a Lambda Literary fellow. |
| Audience | ages 12 to 18 / grades 7 to 12 |
| Key Text Features | chapters; dialogue; lyrics |
“The flow of the prose and plot compassionately portrays everything simultaneously beautiful and catastrophic about queer teenage self-discovery. ... A clear reflection of a very specific type of queer experience that is often overlooked in YA literature.” — Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“An emotional, heartwarming debut filled with queer joy.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Endearing and tender.” — Foreword Reviews
“An electric, poignant and fun! ride, Wavelength feels like a finger on the pulse of this generation.” — katherena vermette
” —katherena vermette“Plett weaves together some of my favorite romantic comedy tropes like hidden identities and small town settings, with some of the most beautiful writing I’ve seen in YA literature.” — Tanya Boteju, author of Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens
” —Tanya Boteju, author of 'Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens'“Cale Plett hits all the rights notes in this queer coming-of-age that explores how the best performance of your life is being your authentic self — a euphoric, lyrical book that’ll have your heart singing!” — Matthew Hubbard, author of The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge
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