Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sweet tale of gay teen who comes out, takes chance on love.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 69 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a relatable and heartfelt exploration of a gay teen's journey of identity and romance, filled with mature themes and humor that resonate with readers. Many reviews praise it for its representation of LGBTQ+ experiences, though they caution about its mature content, including swearing and discussions of sexuality, making it more suitable for older teens or mature younger readers.
- relatable characters
- strong LGBTQ+ representation
- mature themes
- engaging storyline
- emotional impact
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Simon is a gay teen who's being blackmailed: He forgot to sign out of his email, and a classmate discovered the secret messages he was sending anonymously to a teen boy he only knows as Blue, who's also in the closet. Now, if Simon wants his sexuality to stay a secret, he must help that classmate try to hook up with a girl he likes. When Simon's secret inevitably comes out, he faces both positive and negative reactions from his friends, parents, and classmates, including some outright bullying at school. He also must figure out what to do about Blue, for whom he now has deep feelings -- and who now knows who he really is.
Is It Any Good?
Despite the rather devastating premise, SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA is a fast-moving, fun book about a boy learning to be honest about who he is -- and to be brave enough to take a chance on love. Simon's coming-out story might not break new ground, but it's sweet and romantic.
Also, Simon gains some surprising insights about himself and life, and readers will enjoy his ideas. For one, he thinks that all young people should have to come out about their sexuality, not just gay people. He also realizes the logic in what Blue tells him -- "people really are like houses with vast rooms and tiny windows" -- meaning he's not the only one with a secret identity and that even the people he's closest to are getting over private pain or discovering new parts of their personalities. That's a lesson that all teens can relate to.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about coming-out stories. What do you think of Simon's idea that all people should have to come out, no matter what their sexuality?
What do you think about the blackmail subplot? Parents might want to use this book -- and what happened to Simon -- to discuss cyberbullying with their kids.
What would happen in your school if someone came out as gay? Would anyone act as badly as some of the kids do in Simon's school?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Balzer + Bray
- Publication date : April 7, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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