Trauma

Not only does trauma have the biggest impact on Simon’s worldview and psyche, but the author also encourages the reader to consider the effects of trauma on those closest to the victims. By the end, Simon recognizes that his own trauma is just as valid as his parents’, and they all deserve to process it in their own way.

Simon’s anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the main, emotional focal point of the novel. The author’s decision to remain in Simon’s point-of-view means that the reader gets direct insight into how he views the world and what happens when his mind spirals into panic. A good example is when Simon realizes that news crews might come to Grin and Bear It if Agate’s plan works. Simon says, “Now that the switch is flipped, my brain is going six directions...