Book Club Pick: March 2018
Book Details:
Title: Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
Author: Becky Albertalli
Series: Sequel – Leah on the Offbeat (2018)
Country: United States of America
Publisher: Balzer + Bray, HarperCollins
First Published: 2015
Pages: 303
Publisher’s Description:
Simon Spier is sixteen and trying to work out who he is – and what what he is looking for.
But when one of his emails to the very distracting Blue falls into the wrong hands, things get all kinds of complicated.
Because, for Simon, falling for Blue is a big deal…
Review:
Sixteen-year-old Simon Spier is growing up in a town just out of Atlanta, Georgia. He has a secret – he is gay, but no one knows it, except Blue who he found through a post on Tumblr. Simon (using the pseudonym Jacques) has been exchanging emails with Blue. Simon does not even know who Blue is except that he goes to his school.
The novel opens with Simon being blackmailed by Martin Addison. Simon had left his Gmail account signed in and Martin has read one of his emails – his secret is out. Martin wants Simon’s help to get a date with his friend Abby.
A large part of the novel is the mystery of who Blue is. There are clues throughout that if the reader pays careful attention to will reveal Blue’s identity. I have to admit I had it down to two characters, but couldn’t decide.
Albertalli’s debut novel is told through Simon’s first person narrative and the emails between Simon and Blue.
A sequel, Leah on the Offbeat is due for release 24 April 2018.
A feature film adaptation Love, Simon directed by Greg Berlanti and starring Nick Robinson, Katherine Langford, Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel is due out later this month.
Links:
Becky Albertalli Official Website
Source: I borrowed this book from my public library.
