Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda – Becky Albertalli

Sixteen-year-old Simon Spier is gay, but he has not told anyone. The only person who knows is Blue, a classmate he has been emailing anonymously. Neither knows the other’s real identity, but over time their witty, honest messages have grown into something deeper, and Simon is falling for him.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, the debut novel by Becky Albertalli, follows Simon as his carefully guarded secret is threatened. When another student, Martin, discovers the emails, he blackmails Simon, threatening to reveal everything unless Simon helps him win the attention of one of Simon’s friends. Simon is forced to navigate a tricky situation that puts his friendships, his privacy and his relationship with Blue at risk.

Meanwhile, Simon deals with the everyday ups and downs of high school life, including rehearsals for the school play, changing friendships and his close-knit, sometimes overly enthusiastic family. As the story unfolds, Simon must decide how and when he wants to come out, and he tries to figure out who Blue really is.

Told in Simon’s funny, heartfelt voice and interspersed with the emails between Simon and Blue, the novel is a warm, witty story about identity, friendship, first love and the right to tell your own story.

Charming and moving, Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda won awards and was adapted into the film Love, Simon. It is a wonderful read for teens and adults who enjoy contemporary young adult fiction and romantic comedy. It contains some mild language and mature themes.