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

Nora is Simon's younger sister and a freshman in high school. Simon describes her as quiet and studious; she often stays in to read or do homework rather than go out with friends. After Alice goes away to college, Simon starts to notice that Nora is extremely observant and begins to gain confidence. Though Simon refuses to talk about personal things with her for much of the novel, Nora also takes it upon herself to tell him about Martin's creeksecrets post outing Simon to the entire school. Thus, she's the first person in Simon's family that he comes out to. Simon is perplexed when Nora begins spending time out of the house after school, but discovers at the school talent show that Nora is part of a band called Emoji. Nick has been helping her learn to play guitar for months, and she seems surprisingly happy and comfortable onstage given her quiet and shy demeanor.

Nora Spier Quotes in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

The Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda quotes below are all either spoken by Nora Spier or refer to Nora 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:

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

The timeline below shows where the character Nora 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

Nora sets up the video chat on the living room computer and calls Alice. Simon tries... (full context)

...does his best to avoid Martin by sticking close to Nick and Leah. One morning, Nora asks if something is up when Simon insists on sitting in the car until school... (full context)

...wonders if she knows he's gay. They make grilled cheese sandwiches and then sit with Nora in the living room. Nora makes herself a grilled cheese, and Simon beats himself up... (full context)

...and laugh, and Simon almost wishes he were home watching TV and eating candy with Nora. He finds his beer disgusting and marvels that people get fake IDs in order to... (full context)

...Simon insists they are, and tells Blue about an imaginary world he made up with Nora where everything is made up of Oreos. Blue responds and jokingly asks how many servings... (full context)

...as though the evening will be okay. The family moves to the living room, where Nora gets peanut butter so they can have "Nick Eisners"—cookies with peanut butter on top, which... (full context)

...guitar. She's quiet for a minute and then asks if they remember his bar mitzvah. Nora giggles, and Simon throws a pillow at Alice. At Nick's bar mitzvah, Simon had danced... (full context)

...week pining over Blue, who isn't ready to meet in person. After dinner, Simon joins Nora and his parents in the living room to watch a movie. He squints at the... (full context)

Soon after, Nora knocks on the door and lets herself in. She reaches for Simon's computer and says... (full context)

After a few minutes, Simon says it's true that he's gay. Nora said she could tell from Simon's reaction to the post. Simon insists he can't do... (full context)

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

...in the car all day on his first day back at school after the break. Nora is finally able to talk Simon into going in. He starts to relax when he... (full context)

On Sunday, Simon spends his day on his bed listening to music. He's annoyed that Nora is mysteriously out of the house. He runs through what he knows about Blue, but... (full context)

...for the school twice; once for freshman and seniors and again for sophomores and juniors. Nora comes to school early with Simon and tapes up cast lists photos in the atrium.... (full context)

...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 that he's... (full context)

...Simon is in an unusually good mood, but Simon declines to explain why. He hears Nora get home and is surprised to see that Leah drove Nora home. Mom insists that... (full context)

...five girls on instruments. Simon is shocked—the drummer is Leah, the singer is Taylor, and Nora is playing lead guitar. (full context)

...houses, with big rooms and small windows. Nick admits that he's been secretly working with Nora on the guitar for a few months now. She apparently asked that he keep it... (full context)

...stalking Bram on Facebook for weeks. The girls of Emoji come out from backstage, and Nora flings herself at Alice for a hug. Mom and Dad give her a bouquet, and... (full context)