YA Lit.: Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda

Wow. March was a hectic month. Between classwork, homework, and life in general; I admit that the last thing I wanted to do on my brief semester break was tear through a book. As I settled into the extremely uncomfortable bus seat for my five hour ride back to school, I reluctantly opened Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda. I knew there was a lot of hype about the book and the new movie, but I also knew that I am typically underwhelmed by young adult books the media takes by storm. I knew it was probably a cute story, but it couldn't be as good as everyone says.

Let me tell you, I was dead wrong.

Wonderfully sarcastic, completely awkward, and surprisingly clever, Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda follows sixteen- year- old Simon Spier and his group of friends as they stumble through their junior year of high school. Author Becky Albertalli tackles everything from homosexuality and bullying to cliques, new kids, and crushes-- and she does so in a seamless, almost entirely realistic manner. While Simon's love story may be a little far-fetched, I found myself captivated by the mysteries Simon was thrown into: Who is Blue, and will Simon ever meet him? Where is Nora vanishing off to? What will Martin do about Simon's secret? Get your notebooks ready to jot down any clues, because if you are like me, you'll be just as eager to solve these puzzles as Simon is.

As a future teacher, I would highly recommend Simon to my future students for its relatable tone, characters, and story lines. Even more, I would consider using the work in my classroom as a tool to stimulate discussions about difficult social topics students need to address but are often avoided in curriculum. Albertalli's main message is simple: Everyone should, and does, have to "come out." Some of my future students will come out like Simon and openly express their sexuality. Others will come out like Nora, and reveal a secret talent they had hid from their friends to avoid embarrassment. There are so many ways everyone comes out in their lives, and I want my students to feel like my classroom, their school, and their world is a safe place to do so. If my students are apprehensive to talk about the social problems they face in the halls, Simon's voice will be a good place to start. And for all it's worth, maybe Simon will help my students find their courage to be comfortable with who they are, openly.

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