Point of View

Simon Sort of Says is told entirely in Simon’s point-of-view. Furthermore, it is told in the style of either a storyteller to a small audience or as a personal journal that Simon thinks will be read. This changes both the tone and the way that Simon approaches the information. In some scenes, Simon is more casual, acting as if the reader is a friend or someone else he trusts. There is also a lot of natural sarcasm, but it does not sound rude or dismissive. Instead, it is clear that Simon is actually trying to use humor to cope with the anxiety and trauma he faces. The first chapter is an excellent example of this. Simon says, “People are always asking why my family came to the National Quiet Zone. Like we need a reason. I mean, who wouldn’t want to live in...