Reviews with content warning for Grief - Simon Sort of Says

Definitely going to be a favorite of the year. When I heard this book reviewed/pitched it was with the information that it is about the aftermath of a school shooting and it is also one of the funniest books you will read and I fully agree. Those things don't seem like they would go together at all, but the author so skillfully walks the line of dealing with grief, trauma and other hard topics but also using levity to provide a foil to the darkness. I was laughing out loud and reading sections of the story to my family members at Thanksgiving--it is a style of humor kind of like Gary D. Schmidt and Richard Peck. Definitely recommend this middle grade widely (after checking triggers for the content of course).

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betweentheshelves's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A beautifully written book about healing from trauma and the friends that you meet along the way. Simon is dealing with the aftermath of a school shooting in which he was the only survivor. Trying to get away from all the media attention, him and his parents move to Grin and Bear It, Nebraska--a National Quiet Zone where the internet is banned. Here, Simon is determined to not let anyone know about his past.

The tone of the book fits perfectly for a middle grade audience, despite the slightly darker undertone of trauma. Simon and his friends get up to some ridiculous hijinks (some of them include emus), and I think it works so well for the target audience.

All of the characters are also fully developed, including Simon's parents. Their interactions are just lovely, and it's clear that Simon's parents care a lot for him.

I can definitely see why this was one of the longlist books for the National Book Award!

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juliaegreene's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

an honest and well-written story about the impact of a school shooting on a middle schooler and his family, simon sort of says took me by surprise. i really enjoyed this story, but i will say that it might not be for everyone and that readers should take care of themselves. erin bow is a great writer and i loved how she developed her characters throughout this story. raw and upsetting and hopeful and funny (jesus squirrel made me crack up) and overall an amazing story of growing up, trauma and the power of supportive friends and family.

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sab_reads14's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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plaidelephantky's review

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challenging emotional sad medium-paced

4.5

It seems odd to say about a book that centers on the emotional aftermath of a school shooting...but this book was hilarious. Erin Bow managed to tackle some extremely hard content in a totally engaging and joy-filled way. From attack peacocks to a bumbling funeral home employee to faking alien contact with microwave signals, this book is a trip. But through it all, Bow also gently shows us the terrible trauma that Simon experienced - and the ways it continues to impact not only his life but his family's. It's a tough read and definitely geared to the older end of "middle grade" (I'd say 10+) but it's fantastic.

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hedits's review

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

5.0

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