NEWBERY HONOR AWARD • LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD HONOR • FINALIST FOR THE AUDIE AWARD FOR BEST MIDDLE GRADE AUDIOBOOK OF THE YEAR
“Funny, poignant and—most important—hopeful.” —New York Times
Simon O’Keeffe’s biggest claim to fame should be the time his dad accidentally gave a squirrel a holy sacrament. Or maybe the alpaca disaster that went viral on YouTube. But the story the whole world wants to tell about Simon is the one he’d do anything to forget: the one starring Simon as a famous survivor of gun violence at school.
Two years after the infamous event, twelve-year-old Simon and his family move to the National Quiet Zone—the only place in America where the internet is banned. Instead of talking about Simon, the astronomers who flock to the area are busy listening for signs of life in space. And when Simon makes a friend who’s determined to give the scientists what they’re looking for, he’ll finally have the chance to spin a new story for the world to tell.
Simon Sort of Says, the Newbery Honor-winning novel by Erin Bow, is a breathtaking testament to the lasting echoes of trauma, the redemptive power of humor, and the courage it takes to move forward without forgetting the past.
INCLUDES DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
Erin Bow grew up wanting to be an astronomer, trained as a particle physicist . . . and then took a left turn into writing poetry and children's fiction. Her books—which include Stand on the Sky, Plain Kate, Sorrow’s Knot, and the science fiction duology The Scorpion Rules and The Swan Riders—have won a fistful of awards, including a Newbery Honor. Born in Iowa and raised in Nebraska, Erin now writes in a shed in her messy but beloved garden in Ontario, Canada. Visit her online at ErinBow.com and @ErinBowBooks.
SHORTLIST
| 2025 Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Master List
NOMINEE
| 2024 California Young Reader Medal
NOMINEE
| 2024 Great Lakes Book Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 Illinois Reader's Choice - Bluestem Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 Kentucky Bluegrass Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 Michigan Reading Association Great Lakes Book Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 Nebraska Golden Sower Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 New Jersey Garden State Teen Book Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 Rhode Island Children's Book Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 South Carolina Junior Book Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 Vermont Golden Dome Book Award
SELECTION
| 2024 Kansas State Reading Circle Award
SELECTION
| 2024 Texas Lone Star Reading List
SELECTION
| 2024 Virginia Young Readers Program
HONOR
| 2024 Schneider Family Book Award
AWARD
| 2024 Newbery Honor Book
SELECTION
| 2023 Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book
SELECTION
| 2023 Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year
SELECTION
| 2023 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
FINALIST
| 2023 Cybils
LONGLIST
| 2023 National Book Award
AWARD
| 2023 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Accolades A Newbery Honor Winner Longlisted for the National Book Award A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Winner A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection An Audie Award Finalist A January/February 2023 IndieNext List Selection A National Education Association’s Read Across America Recommendation A 2024 Texas Lone Star Reading List Selection A 2024–2025 California Young Reader Medal Award Nominee A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2023 A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2023 A School Library Journal Best Book of 2023 A Shelf Awareness Best Book of 2023 A Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Book A Chicago Public Library Kids Best of the Best Book A 2023–2024 Project LIT Book Club Pick A 2023 Cybils Awards Finalist An Amazon Editors’ Pick January 2023
“A perfectly paced, layered novel that never speaks down to its readers and handles difficult situations with remarkable sensitivity. Bow hits all the right chords and delivers a story that is funny, poignant and—most important—hopeful.” —New York Times
"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 About Jellyfish
"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 tribute to the power of friendship and the courage it takes to pursue joy in a world of violence.” —National Book Foundation, National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Longlist
*"An uproarious small-town comedy with a devastating tragedy at its core." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
*"Despite the weighty premise, Bow’s storytelling brims with vitality." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review
*"Laugh-out-loud . . . a compassionate and refreshingly hopeful novel." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Heartwarming, heartbreaking and, it must be said, hilarious.” —National Catholic Reporter
NEWBERY HONOR AWARD • LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD HONOR • FINALIST FOR THE AUDIE AWARD FOR BEST MIDDLE GRADE AUDIOBOOK OF THE YEAR
“Funny, poignant and—most important—hopeful.” —New York Times
Simon O’Keeffe’s biggest claim to fame should be the time his dad accidentally gave a squirrel a holy sacrament. Or maybe the alpaca disaster that went viral on YouTube. But the story the whole world wants to tell about Simon is the one he’d do anything to forget: the one starring Simon as a famous survivor of gun violence at school.
Two years after the infamous event, twelve-year-old Simon and his family move to the National Quiet Zone—the only place in America where the internet is banned. Instead of talking about Simon, the astronomers who flock to the area are busy listening for signs of life in space. And when Simon makes a friend who’s determined to give the scientists what they’re looking for, he’ll finally have the chance to spin a new story for the world to tell.
Simon Sort of Says, the Newbery Honor-winning novel by Erin Bow, is a breathtaking testament to the lasting echoes of trauma, the redemptive power of humor, and the courage it takes to move forward without forgetting the past.
INCLUDES DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
Author
Erin Bow grew up wanting to be an astronomer, trained as a particle physicist . . . and then took a left turn into writing poetry and children's fiction. Her books—which include Stand on the Sky, Plain Kate, Sorrow’s Knot, and the science fiction duology The Scorpion Rules and The Swan Riders—have won a fistful of awards, including a Newbery Honor. Born in Iowa and raised in Nebraska, Erin now writes in a shed in her messy but beloved garden in Ontario, Canada. Visit her online at ErinBow.com and @ErinBowBooks.
SHORTLIST
| 2025 Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Master List
NOMINEE
| 2024 California Young Reader Medal
NOMINEE
| 2024 Great Lakes Book Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 Illinois Reader's Choice - Bluestem Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 Kentucky Bluegrass Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 Michigan Reading Association Great Lakes Book Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 Nebraska Golden Sower Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 New Jersey Garden State Teen Book Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 Rhode Island Children's Book Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 South Carolina Junior Book Award
NOMINEE
| 2024 Vermont Golden Dome Book Award
SELECTION
| 2024 Kansas State Reading Circle Award
SELECTION
| 2024 Texas Lone Star Reading List
SELECTION
| 2024 Virginia Young Readers Program
HONOR
| 2024 Schneider Family Book Award
AWARD
| 2024 Newbery Honor Book
SELECTION
| 2023 Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book
SELECTION
| 2023 Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year
SELECTION
| 2023 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
FINALIST
| 2023 Cybils
LONGLIST
| 2023 National Book Award
AWARD
| 2023 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Praise
Accolades A Newbery Honor Winner Longlisted for the National Book Award A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Winner A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection An Audie Award Finalist A January/February 2023 IndieNext List Selection A National Education Association’s Read Across America Recommendation A 2024 Texas Lone Star Reading List Selection A 2024–2025 California Young Reader Medal Award Nominee A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2023 A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2023 A School Library Journal Best Book of 2023 A Shelf Awareness Best Book of 2023 A Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Book A Chicago Public Library Kids Best of the Best Book A 2023–2024 Project LIT Book Club Pick A 2023 Cybils Awards Finalist An Amazon Editors’ Pick January 2023
“A perfectly paced, layered novel that never speaks down to its readers and handles difficult situations with remarkable sensitivity. Bow hits all the right chords and delivers a story that is funny, poignant and—most important—hopeful.” —New York Times
"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 About Jellyfish
"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 tribute to the power of friendship and the courage it takes to pursue joy in a world of violence.” —National Book Foundation, National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Longlist
*"An uproarious small-town comedy with a devastating tragedy at its core." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
*"Despite the weighty premise, Bow’s storytelling brims with vitality." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review
*"Laugh-out-loud . . . a compassionate and refreshingly hopeful novel." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Heartwarming, heartbreaking and, it must be said, hilarious.” —National Catholic Reporter
