Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Title: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
Author: Becky Albertalli
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: April 7, 2015

Format: eBook
Price: $10.99
Page Count: 336 pages
ISBN-13: 9780062348692

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)
Lexile: HL 640L
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: Simon has been happily exchanging e-mails with an anonymous boy from school, but things change when classmates Martin finds out and blackmails him.

Plot and Content Summary: Because Simon forgets to log out of his e-mail account at the school library, Martin finds his letters to Blue, an anonymous classmate. Since Simon has not come out as gay yet, Martin decides to blackmail him. If Simon introduces him to the girl he likes, Simon's friend Abby, he will keep the e-mails a secret. Simon really does not want to do this, but he also does not want to ruin his relationship with Blue. As Simon works on setting Abby and Martin up, he becomes more intimate with Blue.

Evaluation: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda received a lot of coverage and advertisement when it first came out, and I am happy to say that it is as good as everyone says it is! It was very cute, with an excellent depiction of the high school experience. This book is told in Simon's perspective, so we get to see the world from his mind. He has quite the personality, often making jokes as a teenager would. Simon's family plays a big role in his life—much of what his parents do embarrass him, as expected—but they all have so much love for each other, and Simon's family supports him no matter what. Simon's situation does not get resolved right away, which shows a realistic look at how complicated life can be.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Sharing any type of private secret to the public is difficult, and Simon was not able to make that decision himself. For teens who are figuring out who they are, like their sexual identities, having the fear of coming out before being ready is valid. Teens who have friends who are feeling this way can support and encourage them, but know when to not push their boundaries.

Issues Present: If Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda were challenged or banned, it would probably be for LGBTQ+ content. As stated in my entry for You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan, this book can help people come to terms with who they are and be a source of hope.

Book Talk Ideas: 

  • Was Martin a bad person? Do you think Simon should have treated him any differently toward the ending?
  • Simon was outed before he was able to make his own decision to come out. Do you think he reacted in a justified way? Why or why not? (p. 196)
  • How is Simon supported by his family and friends?

Genre/Subgenres: Coming-of-age stories; LGBTQ+ fiction; Realistic fiction

Readalikes: Fan Art by Sarah Tregay, You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan, Anything Could Happen by Will Walton
References
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