Blunt as trauma, delicate as healing, and hilarious and tragic as middle school can be--each piece of Simon Sort of Says snaps together like the most satisfying jigsaw puzzle. This book is as close to everything as one book can be.--Kyle Lukoff, Newbery Honor-winning author of Too Bright to See
Fast-paced and full of quirky characters, Simon Sort of Says presents a tragedy stitched up with humor, sensitivity, and rare humanity.--Jack Gantos, Newbery Award-winning author of Dead End in Norvelt
A near-perfect novel that features quirky friendships, wild astronomy exploits (that almost work!), zany animal capers and plenty of humor amidst the darkness.--Shelf Awareness
*An uproarious small-town comedy with a devastating tragedy at its core.
--Kirkus, starred review
Accolades:
-Junior Library Guild Gold Standard title
[Masterful] . . . funny and heartfelt in equal measure.
--School Library Journal With an abundance of humor, vibrant characters, and a gentle approach to hard truths, Simon Sort of Says strikes a perfect balance of fun and meaning. A remarkable achievement.
--Ali Benjamin, New York Times best-selling and National Book Award-nominated author of THE THING ABOU
Bow tackles really tough topics in this novel with grace and empathy while also threading in laugh-out-loud humor throughout.
--BookRiot
*Despite the weighty premise, Bow's storytelling brims with vitality, featuring many hilarious, outlandish scenes, like the antics of a funeral home's peacock, a dog that retrieves cans of beer, and the life and death of a Jesus Squirrel. The scientific plotline is thematically compelling, and the character-driven narratives thrive in its context, including Simon's narration of his post-traumatic healing and the development of winsome secondary characters.
--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
*Without detracting from Simon's uplifting emotional arc about making peace with his past and looking toward a brighter future with friends, Bow imbues this sincere story with levity by employing madcap plot points, including several animal-centered shenanigans featuring squirrels, dogs, and emus.
--Publishers Weekly, starred review Bow delivers another middle-grade page turner. . . . Bow diffuses the story's serious topics, ranging from parental and social issues to mental and emotional health, with humor and a silly scheme. Middle-grade students will resonate with the worries and pressures attached to making friends and meeting one another's families. A tale of healing that serves as an excellent reminder to never assume we know what plights another friend is going through. --Booklist