Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. Commended) [Hardcover]

Benjamin Alire Saenz (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 21, 2012 | Series: Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. Commended

A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

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 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.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When Aristotle and Dante meet, in the summer of 1987, they are 15-year-olds existing in “the universe between boys and men.” The two are opposites in most ways: Dante is sure of his place in the world, while Ari feels he may never know who he is or what he wants. But both are thoughtful about their feelings and interactions with others, and this title is primarily focused on the back-and-forth in their relationship over the course of a year. Family issues take center stage, as well as issues of Mexican identity, but the heart of the novel is Dante’s openness about his homosexuality and Ari’s suppression of his. Sáenz (Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood, 2004) writes toward the end of the novel that “to be careful with people and words was a rare and beautiful thing.” And that’s exactly what Sáenz does—he treats his characters carefully, giving them space and time to find their place in the world, and to find each other. This moves at a slower pace than many YA novels, but patient readers, and those struggling with their own sexuality, may find it to be a thought-provoking read. Grades 9-12. --Ann Kelley

Review

* "A tender, honest exploration of identity and sexuality, and a passionate reminder that love—whether romantic or familial—should be open, free, and without shame." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

* "Authentic teen and Latino dialogue should make it a popular choice." (School Library Journal, starred review)

* "Meticulous pacing and finely nuanced characters underpin the author's gift for affecting prose that illuminates the struggles within relationships." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

"Sáenez writes toward the end of the novel that “to be careful with people and words was a rare and beautiful thing.” And that’s exactly what Sáenez does—he treats his characters carefully, giving them space and time to find their place in the world, and to find each other...those struggling with their own sexuality may find it to be a thought-provoking read." (Booklist)

"Sáenz has written the greater love story, for his is the story of loving one’s self, of love between parents and children, and of the love that builds communities, in addition to the deepening love between two friends." (VOYA)

"Ari’s first-person narrative—poetic, philosophical, honest—skillfully develops the relationship between the two boys from friendship to romance." (The Horn Book)

"Primarily a character- and relationship-driven novel, written with patient and lyrical prose that explores the boys’ emotional lives with butterfly-wing delicacy."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Sáenz is a master at capturing the conversation of teens with each other and with the adults in their lives." (Library Media Connection, Recommended)

"This book took my breath away. What gorgeous writing, and what a story! I loved both these boys. And their parents! Don't we all wish we had parents like theirs? The ending - and the way it unfolded - was so satisfying. I could go on and on...suffice it to say I will be highly recommending it to one and all. I'm sure I'll reread it myself at some point. I hated having it end." (James Howe, Author of Addie on the Inside)

"I’m absolutely blown away. This is Saenz's best work by far...It’s a beautiful story, so beautifully told and so psychologically acute! Both Ari and Dante are simply great characters who will live on in my memory. Everything about the book is absolutely pitch perfect...It’s already my favorite book of the year!" (Michael Cart, Booklist columnist and YALSA past president)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition (February 21, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1442408928
• ISBN-13: 978-1442408920
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,181 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Benjamin Alire Sáenz was born in 1954 in his grandmother's house in Old Picacho, a small farming village in the outskirts of Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1954. He was the fourth of seven children and was raised on a small farm near Mesilla Park. Later, when the family lost the farm, his father went back to his former occupation--being a cement finisher. His mother worked as a cleaning woman and a factory worker. During his youth, he worked at various jobs--painting apartments, roofing houses, picking onions, and working for a janitorial service. He graduated from high school in 1972, and went on to college and became something of a world traveler. He studied philosophy and theology in Europe for four years and spent a summer in Tanzania. He eventually became a writer and professor and moved back to the border--the only place where he feels he truly belongs. He is an associate professor in the MFA creative writing program at the University of Texas at El Paso, the only bilingual creative writing program in the country. Ben Saenz considers himself a fronterizo, a person of the border. He is also a visual artist and has been involved as a political and cultural activist throughout his life. Benjamin Sáenz­ is a novelist, poet, essayist and writer of children's books. His young adult novel Sammy & Juliana in Hollywood was selected as one of the Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults in 2005, and his prize-winning bilingual picture books for children--A Gift from Papá Diego and Grandma Fina and Her Wonderful Umbrellas--have been best-selling titles. A Perfect Season for Dreaming is Ben's newest bilingual children's book which has received two starred reviews, one from Publishers Weekly and one from Kirkus Reviews. He has received the Wallace Stegner Fellowship, the Lannan Fellowship and an American Book Award. His first book of poems, Calendar of Dust, won an American Book Award in 1992. That same year, he published his first collection of short stories, Flowers for the Broken. In 1995, he published his first novel, Carry Me Like Water (Hyperion), and that same year, he published his second book of poems, Dark and Perfect Angels. Both books were awarded a Southwest Book Award by the Border Area Librarians Association. In 1997, HarperCollins published his second novel, The House of Forgetting. Ben is a prolific writer whose more recent titles include In Perfect Light (Rayo/Harper Collins), Names on a Map (Rayo/Harper Collins), He Forgot to Say Goodbye (Simon and Schuster), and two books of poetry Elegies in Blue (Cinco Puntos Press), and Dreaming the End of War (Copper Canyon Press).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Flower of a Book that Unfolds in your Hands March 31, 2012

By James Hiller TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

This is my first experience with Benjamin Alire Saenz's writing, and after devouring his newest book, "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe", it will definitely not be the last.

Saenz's surprise of a novel tells the tale of two Hispanic teenage boys who meet at a pool and form a friendship that will test them both in unseen ways. Ari is introverted, unsure, and dealing with losing his older brother to unknown reasons.s Dante is more self-assumed, brave, and gregarious. Together, they open each other's eyes to the possibilities that life can bring, both to them and their families that love them dearly.

While the plot summary seems a bit vague, much has been left out on purpose. As suggested by the title, this book holds many surprises that I don't want to spoil. While I saw where the story was going from the beginning, I didn't know how the author was going to get there, and therein lies the joy in reading this book. A poet as well, Saenz doesn't mince words to get meaning across. He also shatters stereotypes of Hispanic males, daring the reader to accept these boys like poetry and reading. It's simply refreshing to not fall into these traps in this YA novel, and it opens it up for everyone.

As I turned the pages of this story, I began to see this not as a book, but as a flower. The sparse the storytelling is, the story blossoms like a flower in your hand. The moments of wonderment, from the words, or the characters, or the story itself, shimmer with an unique quality I haven't had in a story in a long time. This is a story where the characters live, breathe, and dare to be themselves is truly beautiful indeed.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful for all of the right reasons March 29, 2012

By Nibbleswicke

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I picked up Aristotle and Dante randomly last week at a local bookshop. This was my first time reading Benjamin Alire Saenz's work and I am very impressed. Aristotle and Dante is a coming of age story that explores the complicated journey from boyhood to manhood. The writing is simple and poetic while capturing the intimacy between two friends and their struggle to find their place in the world. Ari, one of the main characters, reflects "Sometimes pain was like a storm that came out of nowhere. The clearest summer morning could end in downpour. Could end in lightening and thunder". Saenz's storytelling is similar, amidst a backdrop of growing friendship and self-discovery are unexpected storms that violently distort and destroy what is intimate and beautiful. Despite the destruction and sadness, poetry and art provide hope when all seems lost. This is a story about friendship and living between worlds; between boyhood and manhood, between Mexican identity and American identity, and between living with haunted pasts while writing unwritten futures. Aristotle and Dante is beautiful for all of the right reasons. It's worth a read.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Filled With Beauty and Heart March 9, 2012

By DAC VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

The story begins in the summer of 1987, 15 yr old Aristotle (Ari), has a good relationship with his mother, his father is a man of few words and the two don't know where to begin. Ari also misses his older brother, Bernardo immensely but since he went to prison no one in the family is allowed to speak his name. Ari is angry and always ready to fight, until he meets Dante at the pool Ari has no friends. 15yr Dante is almost the complete opposite of Ari, he's closer is father and unafraid to show kindness and is sure of who he is.

Somehow these soon to be men who are very different quickly become good friends, as the story evolves their bond gets even stronger. As the summers pass, the boys experince love, pain, heartache and loss, pretty much every emotion that will touch your heart. Saenz does it in such a poetic way, you can't help but be fully engaged and moved by the beauty of his words.

Reading Saenz is always a beautiful experience, he is one of my favorites. Every single time I read one of his novels, I happily lose myslef in his words. When I am finished the characters he's created will stay with me for a long time. If you've never read Saenz you are seriously missing out but Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a wonderful place to begin. A 2012 favorite.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A first-rate YA novel with a twist. October 15, 2012

By Ulysses Dietz

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Why do I never get tired of reading about teenagers? I have teenagers. I know what they're like: and thus I know when an author can capture the tone of a teenager and make it feel right. Aristotle Mendoza might be one of my favorite teens ever. Sullen and introverted, friendless but not picked on (because he's tough): Ari Mendoza is nonetheless very close to his parents. When he meets extroverted and sunny Dante Quintana, he finds a fellow teen who openly adores his parents. And yet the two of them form an almost instant friendship. Which, believe me, makes sense because of the way Saenz's terse, rapid-fire narration from Ari's viewpoint lays it out.

What is particularly arresting and satisfying about this book is not just the richness of the dialogue between these two friends; but the importance and powerful, positive presence of all four parents. Many YA novels sort of abandon adults at the sidelines; but here the Quintana and Mendoza parents are important; we care about them almost as much as we care about Ari and Dante - because the boys care about them.

This is not a simple story. It is by turns funny and tough; touching and heartbreaking. It ultimately allows one to believe that, with their parents' love, even the most bottled-up teenage psyche will find its way to freedom.

I think this is a really wonderful book.