Here you will find our honest book review of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe tells a beautiful story about the lives of two boys living in the 1980s while they discover friendship, forgiveness, family, and love. It is a coming-of-age young adult novel and a book that grips you quickly and makes you never want to put it down.
About the Book
Title: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Author: Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Genre: Realistic YA, Romance, LGBT+, Coming of age
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Type: Book #1 of 2 Aristotle and Dante books
Pages: 359
Goodreads Rating: 4.3/5
Dante can swim. Ari can’t. Dante is articulate and self-assured. Ari has a hard time with words and suffers from self-doubt. Dante gets lost in poetry and art, while Ari gets lost in thoughts of his older brother, who is in prison. Dante is fair-skinned whereas Ari’s features are much darker. It seems that a boy like Dante, with his open and unique perspective on life, would be the last person to break down the walls that Ari has built around himself.
But against all odds, when Ari and Dante meet, they develop a special bond that will teach them the most important truths of their lives and help define the people they want to be. But there are big hurdles in their way, and only by believing in each other―and the power of their friendship―can Ari and Dante emerge stronger on the other side.
Book Review Of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
When I first picked up “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe,” I was immediately drawn into the lives of two fifteen-year-old boys, Ari and Dante. Their friendship, which began one summer, resonated deeply with me. Despite their contrasting personalities—Dante being articulate and self-assured, while Ari struggled with words and self-doubt—I found their bond to be both heartwarming and profoundly impactful.
Dante’s fair skin and love for poetry and art presented an open and unique perspective on life. In contrast, Ari, with his darker features, often got lost in thoughts about his older brother, who was in prison. This contrast intrigued me and showcased how their differences complemented each other. Dante’s joy and playfulness became a beacon for Ari, who, despite his intelligence, was plagued by loneliness and anger.
The book does a fantastic job of showing their feelings and emotions. You can actually feel what they’re going through! And their banter? It’s not just funny, it’s full of wisdom too.
Beyond being a simple tale of friendship, this novel delved into their coming-of-age journey and self-discovery, all while addressing significant issues like homophobia, transphobia, and racism. I found the characters to be deeply wounded individuals, often hard on themselves, which made them incredibly relatable. Their growth and the mistakes they made along the way were portrayed with a blend of humor and poignancy that made me both laugh and cry.
Ultimately, “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” was more than a story of two friends for me. It was a testament to the power of kindness, self-acceptance, and the transformative nature of genuine connection. By the end, Ari and Dante uncovered their own understanding of the universe’s secrets, offering me a narrative that was both easy to read and profoundly captivating.
Conclusion
Rating: 5/5
Recommendation: If you love a heartwarming story about two boys finding their way in life and dealing with the pressures of growing up, you’ve gotta read this book!
About the Author
Benjamin Alire Sáenz (born 16 August 1954) is an award-winning American poet, novelist and writer of children’s books. His first novel, Carry Me Like Water was a saga that brought together the Victorian novel and the Latin American tradition of magic realism and received much critical attention. In The Book of What Remains, his fifth book of poems, he writes to the core truth of life’s ever-shifting memories. Set along the Mexican border, the contrast between the desert’s austere beauty and the brutality of border politics mirrors humanity’s capacity for both generosity and cruelty. He continues to teach in the Creative Writing Department at the University of Texas at El Paso.
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