Places & Setting
This quiet Nebraska town near the Dismal River is where Simon’s family moves after leaving Omaha.
What is Grin and Bear It?
These animals caused chaos during the church’s annual “animal blessing” and helped get Simon’s dad fired from his old job.
What are alpacas?
This girl with bright orange hair befriends Simon at lunch and proposes sending a fake message from space.
Who is Agate van der Zwaan?
Agate plans to send a fake message timed according to this type of “sidereal” measurement.
What is sidereal time?
Simon developed PTSD after surviving one of these violent events.
What is a school shooting?
The National Quiet Zone exists so scientists can detect these kinds of signals without interference.
What are radio signals from space?
This peacock, named for his sharp talons, lives at Simon’s house and attacks visitors who trigger the gate.
Who is Pretty Stabby?
This boy with green hair relates to Simon over Minecraft and Hot Pockets.
Who is Kevin Matapang?
The signal is supposed to appear to come from this star, also mentioned in the movie Contact.
What is Vega?
On the anniversary of the shooting, Simon spends most of the day here with his parents and Hercules.
What is under his bed?
This local coffee shop near the SETI project is where Simon often runs errands for his mom.
What is Hello Hello?
This “Jesus” animal chewed through a lightning rod cable, leading to a church fire.
What is the Jesus Squirrel?
This dog, given to Simon by Agate, helps him manage anxiety and trauma.
Who is Hercules?
Agate gets the idea for the plan after learning about this real-life female student scientist.
Who is Jocelyn Bell?
This sound, also used for emergencies like tornado warnings, triggers Simon’s trauma response during gym class.
What is a siren?
This structure, “lighthouse-tall” and “roller-coaster-complicated,” catches Simon’s attention when he first arrives in town.
What are the radio telescopes?
Simon helps herd these large birds after Todd leaves a neighbor’s gate open.
What are emus?
Simon shares his “best friend” confession while lying on his back pedaling his legs to lure animals.
What are emus?
Kevin’s family owns this household appliance, essential to Agate’s plan.
What is a microwave?
Simon’s mom calls this his tendency to go along with others to avoid conflict.
What is “Simon Says Mode”?
Agate’s family farm is located near this giant scientific instrument.
What is the Very Large Radio Telescope?
These animals, bred by Agate’s family, have coats sheared for their wool.
What are Angora goats?
This neighbor warns Simon and Kevin about bringing a microwave past his property.
Who is Mr. Bagshott?
The group plans to use this mathematical pattern to make their signal seem intelligent.
What are prime numbers?
Simon finally shares the truth of his past with Agate while helping with this escaped animal incident.
What is the emu escape?