Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Title: Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Reader: Jaya, Grade 10

Rating: 5 Stars

Sixteen-year-old Simon Spier, the main character in Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, is secretly gay, and although he loves his family and friends, it sometimes feels like they just don’t get him. So, it is a big deal when Simon starts chatting anonymously online with “Blue”, someone from his high school who seems to understand him perfectly. As they get closer through emails, Simon must deal with falling for someone online while puzzling out Blue’s true identity, and deal with the challenges of high school, being gay, and coming out to his family. One of my favorite things about this book is how relatable the characters are, as Simon’s struggles and insecurities are both heartwarming and understandably nerve-racking. Some young adult books only portray the stereotypes of high school, but Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda isn’t one of them. The author does an excellent job of conveying how high schoolers really act, think, and feel, especially when faced with troubles. She also does not belittle typical teenage issues and realistically shows the ups and downs of high school. I love this book, give it 5/5 stars, and recommend it to readers who enjoy teen romance, LGBTQ+ stories, or realistic fiction.