Book Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

 

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. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:

This book was an award winner!

• YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) as a Best Fiction Book for Young Adults in 2013
• Printz Honor 2013
• Rainbow List 2013 (featuring significant GLBTQ content)
• Pura Belpre 2013 Author Award Winner 
• School Library Journal Starred Review
• Publisher's Weekly Starred Review

I can totally see why Aristotle and Dante made all these lists and won awards. I really don't know where to start in writing a review. My words would not give it justice. It was a beautiful book. A special book. Poetic, lyrical, lovely. It is a book about friendship, family and love. A coming of age story. A story about denial and acceptance and finding your own truth.  Love between two boys. Love between parents and children (seriously the best written parents in a Young Adult novel that I have ever read!) Just take my word for it and buy it or get it from your library. But read it now.