Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe: The multi-award-winning international bestseller by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Product description

Rating 4.6 out of 5 stars    1,304 ratings   

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is the beloved cult classic about family, friendship and first love, from award-winning author Benjamin Alire Sáenz. This lyrical novel will enrapture readers of John Green, Love, Simon and Call Me by Your Name. 

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison.

Dante is a know-it-all who has a unique perspective on life.

When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they develop 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 the universe, themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

This incredibly moving and powerful Printz Honor Book follows two teen boys learning to open themselves up to love, despite the world being against them.

 'A tender, honest exploration of identity' – Publishers Weekly 

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

Product details

US Edition

• Lexile Measure : HL380L
• Grade Level : 7 - 9
• Item Weight : 9.9 ounces
• ISBN-10 : 1442408936
• ISBN-13 : 978-1442408937
• Paperback : 368 pages
• Product Dimensions : 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
• Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reprint Edition (April 1, 2014)
• Reading level : 12 and up
• Language: : English
• Customer Reviews: 
  4.7 out of 5 stars     2,074 ratings

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster Children's UK; 1st edition (27 May 2021)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1398505242
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1398505247
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 years and up
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13 x 2.2 x 19.8 cm
• Customer reviews: 
  4.7 out of 5 stars    5,676 ratings

From the Same Author

About the Author

Benjamin Alire Sáenz is an American Book Award-winning author of poetry and prose for adults and teens. His first novel for young adults, Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood was an ALA Top Ten Book for Young Adults and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His second novel for teens, He Forgot to Say Goodbye won the Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award and the Southwest Books Award (Border Regional Librarians Association) and was a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. A former Wallace E. Stegner Fellow in poetry, Sáenz is a professor in the creative writing department at University of Texas, El Paso.