About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is navigating the messy transition of senior year, particularly if they are struggling with the pressure to be 'perfect' or the fear of changing social circles. It speaks directly to the experience of feeling like an outsider within your own friend group and the anxiety of coming out when you feel everyone has already labeled you. Leah Burke's story is a realistic, sometimes prickly look at bisexual identity, self-consciousness about body image, and the friction that occurs when childhood friendships evolve into something more complex. It is best suited for older teens who appreciate a protagonist who is flawed, honest, and deeply relatable in her cynicism and vulnerability. Parents can use this story to open dialogues about academic stress, social expectations, and the importance of being true to oneself even when it feels inconvenient to others.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
DISTRESS: There is a scene involving a public, heated argument at a party that may cause social anxiety for some readers. CONVERSATION: There are references to teenage drinking and sexual tension that may require guidance on healthy boundaries and decision-making.
Ideal Reader
A high schooler who feels like they don't quite fit the 'polished' mold of their peers, or anyone navigating the bittersweet end of a long-term friendship era.
Parent Prep
Preview the scenes involving the 'senior prank' and the school prom for depictions of teenage rebellion and social pressure. A parent might hear their child express frustration that their long-term friends are 'acting different' or 'leaving them behind' as high school ends.
Age Experience
Younger teens will focus on the romance and the drama of the friend group. Older teens (17+) will resonate more with the specific anxieties regarding college applications and the fear of total life transition.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many YA novels that focus on the first realization of one's sexuality, this focuses on the 'second' coming out and the unique challenges of being bisexual in both straight and queer spaces. The narrative explores why someone might choose to keep parts of their identity private even in supportive environments.
Read plot summary
Leah Burke, the dry-witted drummer and artist from 'Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda,' takes center stage during her senior year. As her friend group fractures under the weight of college decisions and changing romances, Leah navigates her closeted bisexual identity and an unexpected, high-stakes crush on a friend. The story culminates in prom season and the bittersweet realization that some friendships must change for individuals to grow.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Leah is an artist who is afraid to show her work. Why do you think she keeps her talent a secret, and how does that relate to her fear of coming out to her friends?
2
How does the friendship between Leah and Simon change now that Leah is the one with a secret? Was there a specific moment where you felt their dynamic shifted?
3
Leah often feels like an outsider because of her family's financial situation. How does this 'outsider' perspective influence the way she treats her friends, especially during prom planning?
4
Discuss Leah's decision to wait to tell her friends she is bisexual. Do you think she owed it to them to tell them sooner, or was she right to wait until she felt ready?
5
At the end of the book, Leah realizes that life doesn't always have a steady beat. What does that mean for her future after high school?
