Simon vs. the Homo Sapien Agenda

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy Library, Cumberland Foreside, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 18, 2016

Review

The paperback edition of a 2015 book. Albertalli captures the essence of YA fiction with this book and its story. Simon is a teenager who is gay, and while not embarrassed about it or particularly careful to hide the fact, he has not officially come out. When another boy, a straight student named Martin finds solid evidence that Simon is gay, he uses it as leverage to get help with a girl, Abby, one of Simon's best friends. Simon wouldn't mind the situation so much except that he has been emailing with another boy at his school, under cover of anonymity, and he wouldn't want that boy, whom is really starting to like through their email exchanges, to be accidentally outed. The story is expertly handled and resonates with all of the issues front-and-center in a teen's life: friends, bullies, parents, first love, making it through the day without embarrassing yourself. Simon is a winning character and his friends are pitch-perfect. Though the ending is a bit too pat, you will be so glad that Simon gets to win that you will cheer right along with him. Highly recommend for YA collections.

Overall Book Score: excellent