Alice Spier Character Analysis in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Alice is Simon's older sister; she's a freshman at Wesleyan University and only comes home to Shady Creek for holidays (though she Skypes home weekly to discuss The Bachelorette with her family). Though Simon doesn't describe Alice in much detail, it's clear that her absence has a very tangible effect on the Spier family members still at home, as her absence makes Simon realize how much Nora is growing up. When she comes home for Christmas, she begins taking mysterious phone calls that last for hours. After Simon comes out, she privately admits to him that she has a boyfriend, Theo, and she didn't want to tell anyone because she didn't want the family to make a big deal out of it. In the immediate aftermath of Simon's coming out, Alice calls out Dad for making rude comments. She also surprises Nora by coming to visit with Theo for the school talent show and after the show, she helps Simon orchestrate a few hours at home unsupervised with Bram.

Alice Spier Quotes in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

The Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda quotes below are all either spoken by Alice Spier or refer to Alice Spier. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Leah once said that she'd rather have people call her fat directly than have to sit there and listen to them talking shit about some other girl's weight. I actually think I agree with that. Nothing is worse than the secret humiliation of being insulted by proxy.

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Leah, Alice Spier, Nora Spier, Mom, Dad

Page Number and Citation: 17

Explanation and Analysis:

It's Christmas Eve day, and something feels a little bit off.

Not bad, just off. I don't know how to explain it. We're hitting everyone of the Spier traditions.

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Alice Spier, Nora Spier, Mom, Dad

Related Symbols: Holidays

Page Number and Citation: 151

Explanation and Analysis:

In this moment, all I want is for things to feel like Christmas again. I want it to feel how it used to feel.

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Alice Spier, Nora Spier, Mom, Dad

Related Symbols: Holidays

Page Number and Citation: 157

Explanation and Analysis:

“But they're supposed to be Alice and Nora. They're not supposed to be different,” I explain.

“They're not allowed to change?” Abby laughs. “But you're changing. You're different than you were five months ago.”

“I'm not different!"

“Simon, I just watched you pick up a random guy in a gay bar. You're wearing eyeliner. And you're completely wasted.”

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Abby Suso (speaker), Nick, Alice Spier, Nora Spier

Page Number and Citation: 235

Explanation and Analysis:

Alice Spier Character Timeline in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

The timeline below shows where the character Alice Spier appears in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Family, Change, and Growing Up Theme Icon

...On "Bachelorette night"—the night that Simon's family watches The Bachelorette and then video chats with Alice at Wesleyan to discuss the show—Simon is distracted. He considers telling his parents about Martin's... (full context)

Nora sets up the video chat on the living room computer and calls Alice. Simon tries to participate in the conversation, but he's distracted thinking about Martin and wondering... (full context)

As Mom and Alice discuss one contestant, Dad insists that contestant is gay and a "one-man Pride Parade." Simon... (full context)

The day after Thanksgiving, the entire Spier family sits outside playing a game. Alice is home from college, and Simon finally realizes how weird it's been without her. Simon's... (full context)

Alice asks how Nick is doing and is happy to hear he still loves his guitar.... (full context)

...ground, but he feels awful for calling Abby a bitch anyway. He also knows that Alice would be disappointed in him. He apologizes and heads onstage. (full context)

...it's gross but he also cannot stop thinking about Blue signing his emails with "love." Alice receives a phone call, leaves to take it, and is gone for two hours. The... (full context)

...the same, and thinks he's felt this way all week. He wonders if it's because Alice is at college or if it's because he's spent his week pining over Blue, who... (full context)

...Simon plays along for a moment before saying that he is indeed gay. Mom and Alice are happy and proud, but Dad asks which girlfriend turned Simon off of women. Alice... (full context)

Later, Alice follows Simon into his room. She refuses to let him put on his depressing playlist... (full context)

The Saturday after Christmas, Simon, Alice, and Nora go to Waffle House for breakfast. Alice smiles at a guy across the... (full context)

...Abby he loves her and invites her to be his sister, insisting he needs new ones—Alice and Nora are changing too much. He doesn't think it matters when Abby points out... (full context)

...grins. That night, both Bram and Simon change their Facebook statuses. Simon declines to call Alice and tell her about it and instead, calls Bram. They joke about posting kissing selfies... (full context)

...it. Nick also explains that he got Simon's family to come to the show, even Alice. After the band finishes, a guy with a beard slides into the seats in front... (full context)

...says he's in as he heads to the atrium with Simon. Simon goes straight to Alice, who admits she's been stalking Bram on Facebook for weeks. The girls of Emoji come... (full context)

Alice tells Simon to keep his phone on so she can text when they're on their... (full context)

...someday. Bram returns to the subject of seeing a movie, and they lie together until Alice texts. (full context)