Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

LGBTQ

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Justification: I selected this book because it won numerous prestigious awards, including the Lambda Literary Award and Stonewall Book Award for LGBT fiction, an Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award honor, Pura Belpré Narrative Medal for Latino fiction, and Michael L. Printz Award honor for Young Adult fiction. It has been well-received by the young adult patrons of my library. I wanted to try something that was an alternative young adult romance, and this LGBTQ selection was the perfect pick.

Reader's Response: The story takes place in the late 1980's and centers around two loner teenage boys. The boys, Aristotle (Ari) and Dante, strike up a friendship and commiserate over their classical names. Oddly enough, they bond over their shared proclivity towards introversion. In spite of their similarities, the boys come from very different family backgrounds. Ari's brother Bernado is in prison for manslaughter and his parents never talk about him. In fact, Ari doesn't even know the reason why his brother is in prison for much of the novel. Ari's father was in the Vietnam War and doesn't want to talk about his experiences with his son. Reclusive and closed off, Ari struggles to connect with his Dad. Dante, on the other hand, has an open and easygoing relationship with his parents. Their connection is a progressive and supportive one and their relationship is transparent compared to Ari's muddled family dynamic.

This novel is scaffolded in the structure of a traditional bildungsroman. The reader follows protagonist Ari on his journey of growth and discovery. Sánez's characters are not superficial: they have a depth and complexity which reveal multidimensional, emotional boys. I connected emotionally to Ari in this book as he struggles with his sexuality and his identity as a Mexican-American. Early on, Ari tells the reader: "I had a feeling there was something wrong with me. I guess I was a mystery even to myself." (p.16) As the novel progresses, so too does Ari's anger build. What begins as teenage angst begins to manifest itself in violence. Ari says, "The problem with my life was that it was someone else's idea." He struggles with his sense of individualism and his place in the world.

Conclusion: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is about discovering sexuality through teen literature. It serves not only the queer community but any young adult looking to be challenged by a beautifully illustrated text. Sánez's prose is gorgeous, lyrical, and haunting. I would strongly recommend this book to YA readers and adults alike. The writing is absolutely beautiful and the story of Dante and Ari's ever-evolving relationship is compelling.

APA Style Reference: Sáenz, B.A. (2012). Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.