Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, by Benjamin Alire Saenz. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York City, 2012. ISBN: 978-1442408920

Summary

Fifteen year old Aristotle, known as Ari, is headed into another bored, lonely summer. He has no friends to hang out with and there's nothing to do in his small town.  He’s the only child left at home after his older sisters left and his older brother went to jail. His mother is too busy with her job and her friends, and Ari’s father is silent and solemn, never talking with his son about his life or his memories of the Vietnam War.

Just when Ari thinks he’ll have another miserable summer, he meets Dante at the community pool. Dante is quiet and has a funny voice, but offers to teach Ari how to swim. Their swimming lessons grow to sharing comic books, and spending time at each other’s houses throughout the summer. Dante is the only one who understands Ari: his strained relationship with his father, his Mexican identity, and confusion about his identity.  With Dante, Ari feels like he can finally be himself. But is he ready to share his true self with his parents and family, or will he shut out all the emotions he feels with Dante?

Critical Evaluation

Aristotle and Dante is much more than a friendship or a LGBTQ novel.   While Ari’s conflicting feelings about his sexuality and his relationship with Dante is a central plot point, the novel is more about Ari coming to terms with who he is. His fragile relationship with his father, his questions about his older brother, and figuring out what makes his happy is something that Ari struggles with throughout the book. Dante’s friendship not only makes Ari feel important, but also helps him sort out through his emotions about his family and himself.

With lyrical prose and beautiful descriptions of Texas culture and landscape, Aristotle and Dante's pace is slow and sweet, most of the plot unfolding over the course of four years.  Saenz gives enough time to develop the friendship between the two boys, without making their relationship too rushed or forced. 

The narrative style is at times broken and jumbled, but it  works for the confusion  that Ari is facing.  Saenz does a nice job describing the cultural influence of Ari and Dante’s Hispanic heritage without bombarding the audience with too many confusing terms and experiences.   The setting of El Paso, Texas, in 1987 is a nice change as well, with several 80'3 pop culture references. At almost 400 pages,the slow pace of the story may be a turn off for some readers.  But for those willing to try it, Aristotle and Dante is a beautiful tale of friendship and finding oneself.

Reader’s Annotation

Have you ever felt alone and misunderstood? Aristotle did, at least until he met a quiet, funny voiced boy named Dante.

About the Author

 “Benjamin Alire Sáenz is an author of poetry and prose for adults and teens. He is the winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the American Book Award for his books for adults. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe was a Printz Honor Book, the Stonewall Award winner, the Pura Belpre Award winner, the Lambda Literary Award winner, and a finalist for the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award. His first novel for teens, 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 book for teens, He Forgot to Say Goodbye, won the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award, the Southwest Book Award, and was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. He teaches creative writing at the University of Texas, El Paso.”

 (Benjamin Alire Saenz.   Retrieved September 28^th, 2014  from http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Benjamin-Alire-Saenz/44544494)

Genres

LGBTQ

Coming of Age

Friendship

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

1: Why was it so hard for Ari to accept his family did love him?

2: In what ways did Dante change Ari’s life?

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 14+

Grades 9+

Challenge Issues

LGBTQ

Defense File

1—Ensure that policies such as “Freedom to Read,” “Collection Development,” and “Challenged Materials” are available for patrons and staff to read and research. Have list of awards and reviews for titles, as well as a “Reconsideration Form” on hand at all branches.

2—Listen to challenges and complaints openly and without judgment. Allow the patron to express their thoughts without inputting your own.

3—Have patron fill out reconsideration form. Provide information and background on challenge material’s author and title.  Forward reconsideration form to appropriate supervisors.

PPLD’s Challenge Materials Policy: http://ppld.org/challenged-materials-policy

PPLD’s Collection Development Policy: http://ppld.org/collection-development-policy

Why included?

I included Aristotle and Dante for its emotional, beautiful writing, and the strong relationship between the two characters.