Simon can hardly believe where he and his parents are moving to. It’s a tiny town called Grin and Bear It, and it has no internet, radio or tv. No microwaves, cellphones or computers. It’s exactly where they need to be to avoid a viral video about alpacas taking over a church service held by Simon’s father. It was a special service for the animals and things got a bit wild. This is what Simon intends to tell anyone who asks why they moved. It definitely did happen, but isn’t the real reason why they are avoiding the rest of the world.

His mum is a funeral director and has bought the local funeral home. It’s called Slaughter & Sons which they don’t even attempt to change. Simon’s dad has become the deacon of a local church called St Barbara’s, and they all try to settle in.

Simon intends to fly under the radar as most new kids do in new schools, in new towns, and does okay. He learns that his new town is half scientist, half farmer, and the kids seem to stick to their ‘sides’. The scientists in town are looking for life on other planets and giant dishes face the sky, ready to catch any message.

Simon soon makes friends with a boy called Kevin whose mum is an astrophysicist, and a girl named Agate whose parents are farmers. At last he feels he can relax, and try and put his past behind him. No-one in town knows who he is, and he enjoys being treated normally again by his new friends. Agate is larger than life with lots of siblings, all living on an Angora goat farm and Muscovy duck refuge. But she’s science smart too and they have a lot of fun.

But without warning, Simon’s secret is out. Everything changes, and another event triggers his PTSD. Are they going to go through everything all over again? Will nothing ever be normal for him and his family?

I never read the blurb of this book before I began listening to the audio book, so didn’t know what had sent Simon and his parents far from an event that transformed all their lives.

Something is hinted at in the story early, and I was intrigued to know more but wanted to just enjoy the reveal as I got to know Simon and his new friends, Agate and Kevin. Agate is hilarious with her straight-up nature and no frills friendship. She’s smart, kind and exactly what Simon needs in his worst moments in his new town. She is the kind of friend everybody needs – understanding, loyal and funny.

The funeral home has a frustrated peacock, and the run ins with Simon’s mum are funny, and a reporter even more so. An ostrich farmer adds more humour as does a Jesus squirrel (you’ll have to read this to learn more), and a missing body from the funeral home. All of this humour helps to balance the terrible event that happened to Simon, and the fallout afterwards.

I haven’t read a book for middle-grade readers before, about a survivor in the centre of a tragedy, who seemingly came out unscathed. There is nothing further from the truth, as Simon and his family are all deeply affected by the event.

Simon Sort of Says deserves every award there is for children’s books, for its insight, humour, authenticity and multi-layered writing. Wow.

Author – Erin Bow

Age – 10+

(Out Sept 24 NZ/Aust)

(2024, Disney Hyperion, PTSD, Life Changing Event, New School, New Town, New Friends, Service Dog Training, Funeral Director, Deacon, St Barbara’s Church, Animals, Peacock, Award Winner, Science, Radio Silence, Scientists, No Internet, No TV, No Radio, SETI, Search for Extrasterrestrial Intelligence, Trauma Reaction, Humour, Funny, Media, Survivor guilt, Moving forward, Secret, Friendship, Family, Secret)