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Two Books I Just Read "The Fault in Our Stars" & "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda"

By Olivia Rose Scarlett Hawth
October 2024

As a teenage bookworm, I've totally devoured both "The Fault in Our Stars" and "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda"! These two books are like the ultimate feels-fest for us YA readers. Let me break down what they have in common after I tell you a bit about both:

"The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

This book hit me harder than the bridge in "All Too Well" (10 minute version, obviously). Summary: Hazel Grace Lancaster, a teen with cancer, falls for the charming Augustus Waters at a support group. Their love story is beautiful, heartbreaking, and infinitely quotable.

Pros:

Will make you laugh and ugly cry in equal measure
Characters that feel like real people you'd want to be friends with. So many feels 😭

Cons:

You might need therapy after reading (but like, in a good way?)

Author: John Green is like that cool English teacher who actually gets it. His books are smart, funny, and pack an emotional punch.Read it and weep (literally) here

"Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli

This book is like "You Need to Calm Down" in novel form - fun, fabulous, and full of pride 🌈.Summary: Simon Spier is a closeted gay teen who starts an email romance with an anonymous classmate. When a blackmailer threatens to out him, Simon has to navigate coming out on his own terms.Pros:

Adorable romance that'll make your heart melt
Diverse cast of characters
Tackles serious issues with humor and heart

Cons:

You'll finish it too quickly and be sad it's over

Author: Becky Albertalli writes with so much empathy and authenticity. Her books feel like a warm hug from your bestie.Fall in love with Simon hereSo there you have it, Swifties! These books are my personal "track 5s" of YA lit. They'll make you laugh, cry, and feel all the feels - just like a Taylor Swift song. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to re-read these while listening to "Folklore" on repeat. Later, besties!

Coming-of-Age Realness

Both books nail the whole coming-of-age vibe. They're all about teens figuring out who they are and dealing with some pretty heavy stuff.Identity Exploration:

Hazel in TFIOS is grappling with her identity as a cancer patient
Simon in "Simon vs." is coming to terms with his sexuality

All the Feels

OMG, the emotions in these books! They'll have you laughing one minute and ugly crying the next.Humor and Heart: Both John Green and Becky Albertalli have this amazing ability to mix humor with serious topics. It's like they know exactly how to hit you right in the feels.

Love Stories That Give You Butterflies

Both books feature adorable love stories that'll have you swooning:

Hazel and Augustus's star-crossed romance in TFIOS
Simon and Blue's sweet email exchanges in "Simon vs."

Family Dynamics

The family relationships in both books are so relatable:

Supportive parents who are trying their best
Siblings that annoy you but you love anyway

Friendship Goals

The friendships in these books are seriously squad goals:

Isaac in TFIOS being the ultimate wingman
Simon's crew in "Simon vs." supporting him through thick and thin

Pop Culture References

Both authors totally get how teens talk and think. They drop pop culture references like it's hot, making the characters feel super real and relatable.

Tackling Tough Topics

These books don't shy away from the hard stuff:

TFIOS deals with illness and mortality
"Simon vs." addresses coming out and homophobia

How do the themes of living life to the fullest compare between the two books?

As a teen who's read both "The Fault in Our Stars" and "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda," I can definitely see some similarities in how they approach the theme of living life to the fullest, even though the stories are quite different. Let me break it down:

Seizing the Moment

Both books emphasize the importance of not waiting to live your life:

In TFIOS, Hazel and Augustus make the most of their limited time, going on adventures and falling in love despite their illnesses.
In Simon vs., Simon decides to come out and pursue a relationship with Blue, rather than hiding who he is.

Embracing Identity

The characters in both books learn to embrace who they truly are:

Hazel and Augustus don't let their cancer define them. They're still witty, passionate teenagers with hopes and dreams.
Simon comes to terms with his sexuality and learns to be proud of who he is, rather than keeping it a secret.

Finding Joy in Small Moments

Both stories show how meaningful everyday experiences can be:

In TFIOS, simple things like watching movies together or sharing inside jokes become incredibly precious.
Simon finds happiness in his email exchanges with Blue and in moments with his friends and family.

Facing Fears

The characters in both books have to confront their fears to truly live:

Hazel and Augustus face their fears about death and leaving loved ones behind.
Simon has to overcome his fear of coming out and potentially changing his relationships.

Love as a Driving Force

In both books, love (romantic and platonic) pushes the characters to live more fully:

Hazel and Augustus's relationship gives them a reason to embrace life despite their circumstances.
Simon's crush on Blue and his strong friendships give him the courage to be himself.

While TFIOS deals with more intense life-and-death situations, both books ultimately send a similar message: life is short, so don't waste time hiding who you are or being afraid to go after what you want. They're both about finding the courage to be vulnerable and to love, even when it's scary.So yeah, even though one book is about teens with cancer and the other is about a gay teen coming out, they both hit me right in the feels with their messages about making the most of the life you have! 📚💖

In "The Fault in Our Stars" and "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda," the main characters take different approaches to living life to the fullest, shaped by their unique circumstances:

The Fault in Our Stars

Hazel and Augustus approach living life to the fullest in the face of terminal illness:

Seizing opportunities: Augustus encourages Hazel to embrace experiences she thought were out of reach, like traveling to Amsterdam.
Finding meaning in limited time: They focus on making their short time together meaningful, rather than dwelling on how long they have left.
Shedding limiting identities: Augustus helps Hazel move beyond her "child dying of cancer" persona and shows her she deserves to live fully despite her condition.
Valuing quality over quantity: The story emphasizes that a life's value isn't measured by its length, but by how it's lived.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Simon's approach to living fully centers more on self-acceptance and embracing his identity:

Coming out: Simon decides to come out and pursue a relationship with Blue, rather than hiding who he is.
Embracing authenticity: The story focuses on Simon learning to be proud of who he is and not keeping his sexuality a secret.
Finding joy in connections: Simon finds happiness in his email exchanges with Blue and in moments with friends and family.
Overcoming fear: Simon faces his fears about coming out and potentially changing his relationships to live more authentically.

Key Differences

Urgency: TFIOS has a more urgent tone due to the characters' terminal illnesses, while Simon's journey is more about personal growth over time.
Scope of experiences: Hazel and Augustus seek grand adventures (like the Amsterdam trip), while Simon focuses more on everyday joys and relationships.
Nature of obstacles: In TFIOS, the characters fight against time and illness. In Simon vs., the main obstacle is societal and personal acceptance.

Both books ultimately encourage embracing life and love despite challenges, but TFIOS does so in the face of mortality, while Simon vs. focuses on self-acceptance and coming of age.

What specific actions do the main characters take to live life to the fullest in each book

The Fault in Our Stars

Hazel and Augustus are all about seizing the day (carpe diem, anyone?):

The Amsterdam Adventure: They use Augustus's "Wish" to travel to Amsterdam to meet Hazel's favorite author. Talk about dream trip goals!
Pre-funeral Eulogies: They hold a pre-funeral for Augustus, delivering heartfelt eulogies to each other while he's still alive. It's morbid but kinda beautiful?
Late-night Philosophy Sessions: They have deep, existential conversations at all hours. It's like their own mini TED talks!
Support Group Shenanigans: They turn the depressing cancer support group into a place for witty banter and flirting. Way to find humor in dark places!
Video Game Marathons: Augustus introduces Hazel to his favorite video games, making ordinary days extraordinary.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Simon's journey is more about embracing his true self:

Secret Emails: He starts an anonymous email relationship with Blue, allowing himself to be vulnerable and honest about his feelings.
Coming Out: Simon eventually comes out to his friends and family, choosing authenticity over hiding.
School Play Participation: He throws himself into the school musical, embracing his love for performance despite his anxieties.
Standing Up to Blackmail: When Martin tries to blackmail him, Simon refuses to let fear control his actions.
Oreo Appreciation: He fully embraces his love for Oreos, turning snack time into a celebration. (Seriously, the Oreo love in this book is real!)
Friend Group Hangouts: Simon prioritizes time with his squad, from Halloween parties to waffle house meetups.

So, while Hazel and Augustus are crossing things off their bucket list and having deep philosophical discussions, Simon is finding the courage to be himself and cherish everyday moments with friends and family.It's like Hazel and Augustus are living their "Wildest Dreams" while Simon is embracing his "You Need To Calm Down" moment - both valid ways of living life to the fullest! 📚💖

You can buy “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green from several popular retailers:

Amazon: Available in various formats including paperback, hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook ¹ ².

Penguin Random House: You can purchase the ebook or audiobook directly from the publisher ³.

Google Play Books: The ebook is available for download on your PC, Android, or iOS devices ⁴.

You can buy “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Albertalli from several online retailers. Here are a few options:

Amazon: They offer both new and used copies, with prices starting around $8.60 ¹.

Goodreads: While primarily a book review site, they provide links to various retailers where you can purchase the book ².

Waterstones: This UK-based retailer offers the book with options for delivery or click and collect ³.

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Writer's Bio:

2024: Hey there! I'm a total Swiftie and bookworm rolled into one. I'm in my teens, so high school life is my daily reality - you know, dealing with classes, friend drama, and trying to figure out who I am. But when I need an escape, I dive into books or blast Taylor Swift's latest album. Speaking of Taylor, I'm absolutely obsessed! I've got all her albums on repeat and I'm always ready to break down the latest Easter eggs in her music videos. "Cruel Summer" is my current anthem, but ask me again next week and it might change! Reading is my other passion. I love getting lost in different worlds and stories. Right now, I'm really into YA fiction, especially if it has some romance or coming-of-age themes.