Author | Becky Albertalli |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Genre | Young Adult, Romance, Drama, LGBT, Coming Of Age |
Publisher | Balzer + Bray |
Publication date | April 7, 2015 |
Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback), e-book, audiobook |
Pages | 303 |
ISBN | 978-0062348678 |
Followed by | Leah on the Offbeat |
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is a 2015 young adult novel [1] and the debut book by American author Becky Albertalli. [2] The coming-of-age story focuses on its titular protagonist Simon Spier, a closeted, gay, high school-aged boy who is forced to come out after a blackmailer discovers Simon's e-mails written to another closeted classmate with whom he has fallen in love.
Albertalli received the William C. Morris Award from the American Library Association, an annual honor for young adult literature, [3] as well as internationally the German Youth Literature Prize. The novel was also featured on the National Book Award Longlist and listed by the Wall Street Journal as one of the Best Young Adult novels in 2015. [4]
The name of the novel is a parody of the term "homosexual agenda", a pejorative phrase that was commonly used by opponents of gay rights in the United States, until growing popular support for gay rights among the American public rendered the use of the term no longer socially acceptable. This is also a reference to a conversation between Simon and his e-mail pen pal, in which they discuss how they believe everyone should have to come out, not just gay people, jokingly referencing the aforementioned phrase and how their own version would be "the Homo Sapiens Agenda", since it applies to everyone regardless of sexuality.
The book was adapted into a film titled Love, Simon , which was released by 20th Century Fox in the United States on March 16, 2018, and was met with critical and commercial success.
Simon Spier is a closeted, gay, 16-year-old student in his junior year of high school with a fondness for musical theater who lives in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. Unbeknownst to his family and friends, Simon has been sending e-mails to a person going by the name of "Blue", Simon himself using the pseudonym "Jacques". As the two become closer, however, Simon's secret suddenly falls under siege; the e-mails sent between him and Blue are threatened to be released if he doesn't play wingman for Martin, the class clown, and coerce his friend Abby into falling in love with him. Now, his sexual orientation could be revealed and the privacy of his enigmatic digital confidant could possibly be compromised. Simon must find a way to step out of his comfort zone, before he is pushed out, and before he loses Blue, who only grows more flirtatious by the day, and who Simon, whether by choice or not, is on the cusp of encountering in person.
A sequel focusing on the character of Leah (set in her senior year), titled Leah on the Offbeat, was released on April 24, 2018. [5] In 2020, Albertalli announced the release of Love Creekwood, the epilogue to both novels released prior. [6]
Love, Simon is the title of the film adaptation of the book. It stars Nick Robinson in the lead role, along with Katherine Langford as Leah, Alexandra Shipp as Abby, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Nick, Keiynan Lonsdale as Bram, and Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel as Simon's parents. Jack Antonoff produced the soundtrack. The film was released in the United States on March 16, 2018. [7]
Development of the film by production studio Fox 2000 was first reported in October 2015, with Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker signed to write the screenplay. [8] [9] Openly gay writer, director, and television showrunner Greg Berlanti directed the film. [10]
The film has grossed $66.3 million at the box office worldwide, against a production budget of $10–17 million. [11] [12]
A television series titled Love, Victor , set in the same universe as the film, premiered on June 17, 2020, on Hulu, with Robinson serving as the series' narrator.
Leanne Battersby is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Jane Danson. It was announced in February 1997 that a "family from hell" would be introduced to Coronation Street. This included Les and Janice Battersby, Les' daughter Leanne and Janice's daughter Toyah. Leanne made her first appearance on 4 July 1997. Danson left the series on 23 August 2000 and returned on 7 June 2004. Danson later took maternity leave in 2006 and returned in early 2007. Danson took another maternity break in 2009 and returned in the same year. On 27 September 2017, Danson took an extended break from the show and returned three months later on 15 December 2017.
Dr. Neela Rasgotra is a fictional character portrayed by Parminder Nagra on the television show ER. Parminder Nagra's addition into the main cast opening credits was in the 3rd episode of season 10.
Riverwood International Charter School is a Charter school located in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States. Riverwood is one of the schools in Fulton County's four magnet sites, offering International Studies and International Baccalaureate Programs.
Ste Hay is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Kieron Richardson. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 10 February 2006. Ste was created by David Hanson and was originally intended to be a short-term character for seven episodes. The following series producer Bryan Kirkwood decided to bring the character back on a permanent basis. As of 2010, Richardson has revealed that he is committed to staying in the serial. In April 2017, Richardson began taking hiatus from the show due to paternity leave, and made a full-time return on 18 December 2017. In October 2019, it was confirmed that Richardson will take a hiatus from the show departing on 20 November 2019. He returned on 3 November 2020.
Bram is a given name for a male. It is derived from the name Abraham, and common in Dutch-speaking regions. It can also be a short form of Abraham, Abram or Bertram.
The Secrets of Love is an adaptation of Jane Austen's 1811 novel Sense and Sensibility. It was written by Rosie Rushton and published by Piccadilly Press Ltd. in 2005. The book had a total of 176 pages and was published as a young adult book. The book is a 21st century adaption of Jane Austen's famous work, Sense and Sensibility.
Nicholas John Robinson is an American actor. As a child, he appeared in a 2008 stage production of A Christmas Carol and Mame, after which he had a main role in the television sitcom Melissa & Joey (2010–2015).
Keiynan Lonsdale is an Australian actor, dancer, and singer-songwriter. He is known for roles such as Oliver Lloyd in the ABC series Dance Academy (2012–2013), Wally West/Kid Flash in the CW series The Flash (2015–2023) and Legends of Tomorrow (2017–2018), and Abraham "Bram" Greenfeld in the film Love, Simon (2018). His other films include The Divergent Series: Insurgent (2015) and The Finest Hours (2016). Lonsdale has also worked as an MTV VJ and released original music recordings, including a studio album in 2020.
Rebecca Albertalli is an American author of young adult fiction and former psychologist. She is best known for her 2015 debut novel, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, which was adapted into the 2018 film Love, Simon and inspired the spin-off television series Love, Victor.
Katherine Langford is an Australian actress. After appearing in several independent films, she had her breakthrough starring as Hannah Baker in the Netflix television series 13 Reasons Why (2017–2018), which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination. She then appeared in the films Love, Simon (2018) and Knives Out (2019), and headlined the dark comedy Spontaneous (2020) and the Netflix series Cursed (2020).
Love, Simon is a 2018 American teen romantic comedy drama film directed by Greg Berlanti, written by Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker, and based on the 2015 novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. The film stars Nick Robinson, Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel, Talitha Bateman, Katherine Langford, Alexandra Shipp, and Jorge Lendeborg Jr.. It centers on Simon Spier, a closeted gay teenage boy who is forced to balance his friends, his family, and the blackmailer threatening to out him to the entire high school, while simultaneously attempting to discover the identity of the anonymous classmate whom he has fallen in love with online.
The Upside of Unrequited is a 2017 young-adult novel by American author Becky Albertalli. It is her second novel and the second novel in the "Simonverse," the shared universe in which Albertalli's books take place.
Leah on the Offbeat is a 2018 young adult novel by American author Becky Albertalli. It is the direct sequel to her 2015 debut novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and the third novel in the "Simonverse", the shared universe in which Albertalli's books take place and which also includes 2017's The Upside of Unrequited. The audiobook was read by actress Shannon Purser.
Jasmine Delaney is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Sam Frost. Frost was asked to audition for the serial while she was competing on Hell's Kitchen Australia. After seeing that she was up against several actresses, Frost did not think she would be successful. Following a second audition, Frost was told she had won the role. Frost had no prior acting experience and she began working with an acting coach. She filmed her first scenes in August 2017, and she made her first appearance during the season finale broadcast on 18 December 2017. Jasmine's introductory scenes see her involved in a car crash, which kills Kat Chapman.
Love, Creekwood is a young adult novella by American author Becky Albertalli, released on June 30, 2020. The book follows Leah on the Offbeat (2018), and serves as an epilogue to it and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (2015).
What If It's Us is a young adult romantic comedy novel series written by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, published by Simon and Schuster. The series consists of two books: What If It's Us (2019) and Here's To Us (2021).
Boyfriend Material is a 2020 contemporary romance novel by Alexis Hall. It centers on the character of Luc O'Donnell, the only child of two 1980's rock stars, and his romantic relationship with Oliver Blackwood, a barrister.