Love, Simon

The second YA novel that my PLC group read was Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, the novel that the new major motion picture Love, Simon was based off of. In the novel, 16-year-old drama-loving Simon Spier explores his sexual identity as he works up the courage to come out to his friends and family. Only two people know that Simon is gay. The first person to find out is Blue, an anonymous classmate who has been corresponding with Simon via email since the summer. Blue is also gay and has yet to come out. The two talk using nicknames in order to maintain their identities. As Simon's feelings for Blue become real, he has to decide whether or not this relationship is worth the potential hardships. The second person to find out about Simon's sexuality is Martin, a fellow drama-lover and the grade's class clown. Unlike Blue, Martin knows Simon's identity. He uses Simon's secret as blackmail in order to force Simon into being his wingman. Will Martin out Simon? Will Simon learn who Blue is? What will his friends and family say? If these are some of your questions, I highly recommend reading the book! 

Multiple connections can be made between Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and the discussions and readings from class. The most apparent connection is to chapter one of our Revel textbook, in which gay rights issues and sexual identity are referenced. The next connection with the text is the use of violent video games. After Martin begins blackmailing Simon, Simon goes to his friend Nick's house to relax. As Nick plays video games, Simon thinks, "I need the violence of video games and the smell of this basement and the familiarity of Nick and Leah" (7). His need for violent video games in order to feel calm stresses the impact that video games have on teenagers in today's world. 

Simon's love for drama and involvement in the school's play illustrate a successful psychosocial resolution. Erikson’s psychosocial guidelines explain that the key task for adolescents is creating a stable and independent identity for themselves. This identity can change and doesn’t have to be permanent for the rest of their life. Psychosocial resolutions involve pursing current passions, which is clearly shown through Simon's involvement with the drama club. 

Throughout the novel, Simon continually acknowledges the racism present in Georgia, his home state. At one point Simon thinks, "Atlanta is so weirdly segregated, and no one ever talks about it" (33). This connects with our class discussion regarding racism. Ignoring racism is racism, which not many people realize. The "default" in the United States is straight and white. Blue emphasizes this unfair default in one of his emails to Simon when he writes, "It is definitely annoying that straight (and white, for that matter) is the default, and that the only people who have to think about their identity are the ones who don't fit that mold" (147). When our most recent speaker came to talk about equity, she also had us fill out Social Identity Wheels. These wheels illustrated what people see first about you and how biases can impact one's treatment towards others. The default of being heterosexual and white gives gays and non whites a disadvantage.

Later in the novel, Simon goes to a Halloween party. While there, he's suddenly very aware of "all the hype surrounding sex" (45). The sexual revolution and the increase in risk taking by teens when peers are present contribute to the increase of sexual activity. This is crucial to acknowledge because teenagers today are becoming more sexually active, so health classes that teach safe sex practices are incredibly important. 

Below is the trailer for Love, Simon. I'm looking forward to watching it with my PLC group!

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is a phenomenal novel for any taste. I strongly recommend it to future PLC groups, high school students, parents, etc.

Thanks for reading!

Love, Kayla