This Printz Honor Book is a “tender, honest exploration of identity” (Publishers Weekly) that distills lyrical truths about family and friendship.Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they … time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.
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This was my second audiobook ever, and boy did it ever prove me wrong when I thought that audiobooks weren’t for me! I loved every second of this.
When I started it, I had no idea what it was about. It was one of those books that were all over my Instagram a while ago, so I thought I should see what the fuss was about. I wasn’t familiar with the author and wasn’t convinced I’d enjoy it since it’s not my go-to genre, so I decided to listen to it rather than buy a physical copy.
Oh gawd, guys, this was so good.
It was very easy to listen to, and I got into it fast. I loved the characters and their stories, and I could’t stop smiling when I finished it while walking home from the train station one afternoon – the ending couldn’t have made me happier.
I still don’t own a physical copy, but I might just buy one for my Forever Shelf. I’m undecided on that (which is probably a no, but I can’t stop thinking about this book, friends.)
I’ve wanted to read this so many times and just didn’t have a real chance at it.
So glad I did now!
Man, what a powerful story. Also my first LGBTQ story. Won’t be my last!
So Dante and Ari, their characters are so real that I find myself crying for them at times, and now after the last page, I am so happy for them. What a struggle, such beautiful friendship, and a genuine love to last a lifetime.
The best part is the writer. How he could make me feel these things for these two, while seeing it unfold like a fly on the wall… I’m forever emotionally effected by Dante and Ari. I want to fight for them too!
I do wish there was more involving the brother in prison. Maybe a letter in the end, I don’t know, I just know I wanted more from that. Maybe a book about Ari and his brother is needed/wanted?
Definitely loved this book and think anyone who loves stories of real friendship should read it. I also want to read more from this author!
Wow. What a great book. Aristotle was so relatable and every teenager goes through a similar journey of not knowing exactly how to become an adult and where they fit in in the universe. Aristotle and Dante’s relationship was so beautiful and I loved seeing how it evolved. The writing was simplistic yet held so much meaning.
Considering the amount of awards that are plastered over the cover of this book, I probably went in expecting more than I should have. Benjamin Alire Saenz’s books were the first to come up when I searched modern LGBT books on Google. That, and the aforementioned awards, I figured this book had to be brilliant, right?
It wasn’t terrible, I must insist that. It really wasn’t. It was certainly enjoyable and I was able to finish it easily. However, I found the writing style extremely basic and almost childlike. I often lost track of whether Dante or Ari were speaking because it often went line upon line without anything but the spoken sentence. Events passed by with being described like “this happened” and “that happened and it was fun”, there was little to no detail most of the time.
As for the LGBT themes, I like that it slowly comes into play throughout the story. There doesn’t need to be a big fanfare about it, because that isn’t the case most of the time.
I can’t say I enjoyed Ari as a POV character. I couldn’t relate or sympathise with him or his plight due to the lack of detail and quickly moving plot. There were times I found Dante insufferable also. Maybe they just aren’t my type of characters.
As I said at the start, this book is still enjoyable. I just feel it might be slightly overhyped.
a bit disappointing ending to me.. could have been more I guess
Best first gay book ever.
I am so obsessed with this book. I love the characters and the plot is beautiful. I relate so much. I admit I shed a few tears.
The audiobook is narrated by Lin Manuel Miranda and it is excellent
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz is one of the revelations of Young Adult LGBTQ lit.
It begins with two unusually named Mexican-American boys in search of identity… who find each other.
The TENSION here is masterful. In a story in which very little happens, Aristotle’s inner narrative just managed to capture my attention with its hints of something elses. I like how Ari, despite all this reflection, doesn’t seem to be able to understand either others or himself well enough and his words and actions keep getting ahead of him. He is a believable protagonist that is both curious and completely oblivious because he keeps asking the wrong questions.
Ugh, THIS BOOK. I liked it more the second time around, which is rare for me–I don’t give many books the honour of a second go, though– but I found the ending sudden last time and this time it made sense, it was the peak of a slow build up that just HAD to happen. I’m DYING for the sequel.
Join me in my suffering?
The book was difficult for me to get into at first, but I ended up loving it! It’s so different from other books I have read. Aristotle and Dante are very realistic, well thought out characters. It was refreshing to read the story of a Latinx character’s journey through mental health and identity.
This is my favorite book of all time!!!!!
How do you understand your family? Your friends? Yourself? Do we really want to know all of their secrets? How about all of our own?
This novel about two teenaged boys who meet at a local pool (one can swim, one cannot) and strike up a friendship is the book I didn’t know I needed to read. Thankfully, many fellow teen/YA fans encouraged me to add it to my list. I am grateful I got to see the stories of Aristotle and Dante unfold, and think you will be, too.
Beautiful. Rich. Quiet. Buy a copy of this award-winner so your teens can read it, too.
BEAUTIFUL!! So beautiful. For the whole time while I was reading the book the word ‘pure’ just kept popping in my mind. I suppose it was because the story is pure, as well as the characters and MOSTLY their friendship.
The main characters were so interesting and clever. Their friendship was truly natural and sincere, as well as their feelings for each other and thoughts about the whole world. They grew up as characters/people and they became more mature which I really liked seeing because it showed how the youth deals with different kinds of problems while growing up and developing character and knowledge for the outside world.
I also loved that the book was written from Ari’s POV (I would’ve loved Dante’s POV as much as Ari’s tbh) because it showed some pretty amazing thoughts about the world and questions we’ve all been asking ourselves at least once.
I really enjoyed reading this pure (yes, that word again lol), beautiful and heartwarming masterpiece. I loved every single piece of this book.
This book deserves status as a masterpiece of this century. Fantastic book!
This is one of the most gorgeous YA novels I’ve read in a long time. It remains a favorite 3 years after I read it. Saenz’s coming-of-age novel about two Latino boys in the American Southwest is wonderful on so many levels. I recommend it constantly to other readers, and they are not disappointed. Great cast of characters, believable situations, a complicated intertwining of lives that just makes the story all the more effective.
It’s a wonderful coming-of-age story focused around two young Americans born to Mexican parents. Ari is a quietly devoted, thoughtful, young man full of anger and sadness yet he doesn’t understand why. Dante is a boisterous and friendly kid full of optimism and hope bordering on naiveté. A chance encounter creates an enduring friendship that helps each of them discover truths about themselves, their families, and the ones that they love. It’s LGBTQ themes are prominent, but they do not overpower the fact that this story is simply about two teens relying on a friend as they each navigate their way into adulthood.