Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz: Worth it?

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz: Worth it?

By Haylee Crapo

With a writing style that could be simply described as poetic, author Benjamin Alire Sáenz brings to the world a novel that dives into what it means to be somebody, and also what it means to love somebody else when you struggle to love yourself.

Aristotle “Ari” Mendoza starts off his summer closed off from the world, and unable to swim. He sets his mind to change one of these problems, and it is at his local swimming pool that he meets Dante Quintana. The two become close friends, even if opposites of each other: Ari, who is mostly quiet and to himself, and Dante who is loud and emotional. Their summer is intertwined from that point on; no longer are they just Aristotle and just Dante, but Aristotle and Dante. Ari even gets along with Dante’s family, who is–on the surface–still opposite to his own, which includes a father who doesn’t speak, a mother who knows more than he thinks, sisters who won’t let him forget their age gap, and a brother that nobody speaks of.

But as the summer continues and tragedy strikes Aristotle and Dante, will they be able to recover? Will Aristotle and Dante become, once more, just Aristotle and just Dante, two separate beings in the expansive universe? Ari must discover himself in order to completely allow Dante into his world, while at the same time figuring out his own family and how he fits into theirs--even if that is much easier said than done.

This novel covers topics that can be pretty hard to swallow (what does it mean to be American? Mexican-American? What does it mean to be a person? Does avoiding talking about trauma make it grow worse?) all the while exploring other topics such as growing up, friendships, and even young love. This is another book I have read multiple times, and it is astounding each time. Sáenz does a perfect job of creating a world within these characters that leaves you breathless and wanting more and more and more.

There is a sequel to this novel, Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World, however I have found that it is not as good as its predecessor. But do not let that stop you from reading it! Aristotle and Dante are as loveable as they come, and you will not be disappointed.

5/6 stars!