I first got in touch with Simon James Green just over a year ago after reading his debut YA novel Noah Can’t Even.
In short, it is the story of geeky teenager Noah Grimes coming to terms with the fact he is gay after kissing his best friend Harry at a party. Set in a small Lincolnshire town, against a backdrop of colourful characters; Noah is a highly comedic book but resonated with me on a deeply emotional level.
Full disclosure: I sobbed on a flight back from Tenerife after finishing the book.
The reason for my emotional outpouring was mixed. On the one hand I wished I had been able to access a story like it twenty years ago when facing a similar internal struggle to Noah as a teenager. On the other I felt joy that a boy in a similar position today can read this book in the school library and feel a little less alone on this planet.
Deep. So anyway, the punchline to all of this is that I originally asked Simon to take part in an entirely different podcast to Show This Thread. Thankfully though he is on Twitter and that is sufficient to qualify as a guest on the show. Hoorah!
Show Notes
Follow Simon James Green on Twitter – @simonjamesgreen
Simon’s novels Noah Can’t Even, Noah Could Never and Alex In Wonderland are all available now.
You can also download the short story Noah Goes Nuclear for free from Simon’s website.
His short story Penguins with art by Alice Oseman is available as part of Juno Dawson’s Proud anthology.
Background links:
- Section 28: An amendment to the UK’s Local Government Act which stated that a local authority “shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”.
- Birmingham LGBT Teaching Row: A good explainer article from the BBC.
An example of an incredible LGBT display in a school library. Bravo!
If you have listened to this episode please get in touch to let me know what you think – either on Twitter – @showthreadpod – or you can email podcast@robgillett.com.
