Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenzis a beautifully written and heart-warming book. This book follows the captivating life of two Mexican-American boys and their growing up. Set in Texas in 1987, the two boys face many hardships regarding identity, relationships, and sexuality throughout the story. I love the writing style in this book. It accurately and thoroughly describes a teenager’s relationship with themselves, their friends, as well as their family. Sáenzis’s use of imagery is quite frankly some of the best I have ever seen. This book contains a rollercoaster of emotions, but it is the best kind of rollercoaster to go on. I recommend this book to people who like fast-paced reads and people who love to immerse themselves in stories.

This is my FAVORITE BOOK of all time. And I've read a LOT of books. I've read it three times in two different languages, and I'm not one for re reading books. Not only does the minimalistic language create a beautiful story, but the characters are relatable and lovable and you cheer for them the whole way. I would literally recommend this book to anyone in need of a good read.

Don't borrow the ebook of this if you're using a Kobo ereader, for some reason or another it will not sync onto your device or even connect to overdrive from the kobo store. I haven't had this problem with any other ebook so far, putting this book on my wait list has just been a waste of time, I'm going to have to actually buy it now. :(

A charming book, labeled for young adults, but also good for adults. Noteworthy: the close bond between each of two main characters and his parents. In most YA novels I have seen, the parents are ciphers or malevolent. All four parents love their children; the love is reciprocated.

Ari is lacking confidence and direction. He feels isolated from his father, who remains haunted by his experiences in the Vietnam War. His parents never talk about his imprisoned older brother, and Ari doesn't even know the details of Bernardo's crime. Then Ari meets Dante, who is light-hearted, well-spoken and sentimental. Dante offers to teach Ari to swim, and a close friendship develops over the course of a summer. When he learns that Dante's family will be moving away for a year, Ari isn't sure how he will survive.

The voices and characters in this heartwarming book felt very genuine, which I always appreciate in young adult fiction because they can be challenging for adult authors to successfully render. Ari and Dante easily endear themselves to the reader, and I would recommend this book to teens and adult of all ages.

This book is beautiful and wonderful and everything that I ever wanted in a book. I can't believe it took me so long to find it. I listened to the audiobook and Lin-Manuel Miranda was a fantastic reader that really put a lot of soul into the telling of this book and I would listen to him read the phone book but aside from that the story was so amazing and I just wanted it to go on and on.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sanez This book is most definitely one of my favourite reads. Saenz’s writing has so many complex themes while also being extremely simple and beautiful. Dante and Ari were very intercut characters it is evident that the barriers that the two had put up before meeting each other came down as they became more comfortable with each other Ari and Dante are two opposing forces, Dante being outspoken and loud while Ari is quiet and keeps his words and feelings to himself. Because of their personality differences Dante makes Ari see the world from a new perspective. Making the boys perfect for each other The fact that this book had no traditional plot was incredible. It has no main event that the story is formed around. Its formed around the importance of friendship, family, loving, being loved, trust, truth and so much more. If it was centered around one singular thing the story would get lost somewhere not making it hit as hard as it does. This is a wonderful and exceptionally beautiful read full of poetry and the important questions in life, it’s a journey with a beginning and an end that you can’t help but fall in love with. 5/5 stars
@GreenUnoReverseCard of the Hamilton Public Library Teen Review Board

I have mixed feelings about this book as well as mixed feelings about the characters. I think the writing was very beautiful, and I think Lin Manuel Miranda did a great job narrating the audiobook (although, I couldn't stop imagining Ari as Lin). Although I did enjoy Ari's character, and by the end of the book, I liked him a lot more than I did at the beginning, I enjoyed Dante's character even more. (view spoiler) I have mixed feelings about this book as well as mixed feelings about the characters. I think the writing was very beautiful, and I think Lin Manuel Miranda did a great job narrating the audiobook (although, I couldn't stop imagining Ari as Lin). Although I did enjoy Ari's character, and by the end of the book, I liked him a lot more than I did at the beginning, I enjoyed Dante's character even more. (view spoiler) I loved the examination of the boys' relationships with their parents, and I think Dante's relationship with his was especially great because it wasn't this strained, angsty relationship that I'm used to seeing in YA novels. I think the growth between Ari and his father was also beautiful and well done. I don't have as much of a problem with the lack of major plot as some other reviewers, but I think it's important to note that it's not action-packed or anything; it's almost more of a character study, which I kind of love. I know this book is about discovery, so it's more about the journey, but I do wish the ending was a little more...grandiose maybe? I just wish it was more of a revelation, even with all of the foreshadowing leading up to it.
Overall, I enjoyed it, and I enjoyed the realness and flaws of the characters. I think I'll be picking up the sequel (if it is ever released).

Some books are incredibly and inexplicably beautiful. This is one of them. I can't put my finger on what makes this book so special, but I encourage everyone to give it a try for themselves.

"Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" is comically relatable, funny and shares important morals everyone needs to know. The book explores the friendship (or is it something more?) between two incoming freshmen in Texas: Aristotle and Dante. As their relationship develops, they get to know each other, and, in the process, know themselves. A fabulous read for tweens and up, wanting to understand more about different worlds. I quite enjoyed the book. I believe that Saenz has crafted a universe for the characters inside of this masterpiece of literature. It is exactly the kind of reading we should push our younger generation to read.