Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe – Book Review

There are books that come into your life and leave a hand-print, a permanent mark on your heart that not even time can erase. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz is one of those books. The book was first published back in 2012, and since then, it has established itself as one of the best coming-of-age queer stories ever written – especially for queer Latinx people, who don’t get to see themselves represented in mainstream pop culture that often.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is lauded by critics, and the author has received many prestigious accolades, including the Stonewall Book Award for LGBT Fiction (2013), the Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award (2013), the Michael L. Printz Award (2013) and the Pura Belpré Award (2013) among others. It’s a book that has experienced much hype and attention, deservedly so. 

And that is why writing this review is so hard for us. What else can we say that hasn’t been said by every single soul this book has ever touched? Not to mention that, as members ourselves of the queer and Latin community, this book is very close to our hearts. So, can our words manage to capture even a little bit of what Sáenz so cleverly poured into this book? Can they?

We’re gonna be honest, it seems like a monumental task. But here at Q+, we love challenges, so we’re gonna attempt to tell you why – if you haven’t already – you should read this book and try, along with Ari and Dante, to discover all the secrets of the universe. 

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe: a work of art in six parts.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, we’re sure you’ve heard about Sáenz’s acclaimed book at least once. But in case you haven’t (seriously, what have you been doing with your life?), let us tell you a little bit about the story (divided into six parts), its plot, its perfectly crafted characters, the beautiful and poetic love story Sàenz penned, and why this book is somewhere at the top of our favorite queer YA coming of age books. 

Why do we smile? Why do we laugh? Why do we feel alone? Why are we sad and confused? Why do we read poetry? Why do we cry when we see a painting? Why is there a riot in the heart when we love? Why do we feel shame? What is that thing in the pit of your stomach called desire?”

(Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe)

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe tells the story of two Mexican-American boys, Aristotle “Ari” Mendoza and Dante Quintana as they grow together, and apart, and then together again in El Paso, Texas between the summers of 1987 and 1988. 

At the beginning of the story, Aristotle (our introverted and at times misanthropic protagonist) is a very angry fifteen-year-old who struggles a lot with expressing his emotions and understanding his place in the world. Dante, on the other hand, is this know-it-all, joyous, and very talkative boy who has an unusual way of looking at the world. 

When the two boys meet by chance at the local swimming pool during the summer, they seem to have nothing in common except perhaps their classical names and ethnicity. But as they start spending time together, they discover that they share a special bond, a special friendship – the kind that changes your life and lasts for a lifetime. And it is exactly through this friendship that Ari and Dante learn some of the most important lessons and truths about life, the universe, themselves, and the kind of people they want to be. 

But let’s start at the beginning…

Swimming Lessons, Birds, and the end of Summer

When we initially started reading this book, the first thing that hooked us was the author’s beautiful prose. It’s through Ari’s consciousness that the author inserts emotional truths and asks important questions about life, love, culture, identity, and feelings that although at times seem very profound for a fifteen-year-old, allow the reader to empathize with him and share his journey of discovery.  

The world was so silent. There was a barrier between me and the world, and I thought for a moment that the world had never wanted me and now it was taking the opportunity to get rid of me.”

(Aristotle Mendoza, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe)

Through the first three sections of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe titled “The Different Rules of Summer,” “Sparrows Falling from the Sky,” and “The End of Summer,” we get to see Ari and Dante become best friends and have all sorts of adventures together. Dante teaches Ari how to swim, Dante notoriously (and hilariously) always loses his shoes – that boy just doesn’t like shoes. The boys go stargazing together for the first time and it’s really quite a magical moment. Dante declares that he is definitely going to find all the secrets to the universe one day and then Ari (mostly because he loves Dante) falls in love with the idea of finding all the secrets the universe has to offer. It’s so sweet. 

During these sections, we’re also introduced to the world they live in, the struggles they go through as second-generation immigrants trying to fit into an American society, their cultural heritage and roots, and also their complicated and yet beautiful families. This is a fictional book, set in a fictional world in El Paso, Texas, but it’s as authentic as it can be. And that’s why the stories it tells feel so true and authentic to the reader. We just love when books make us feel that. 

Of course, none of that would work without strong and fully developed characters. And although the story focuses on Ari and Dante (duh), every other character crafted into this world is vivid and present. Even characters physically absent from the story like Ari’s imprisoned brother, Bernardo, and sick and then deceased Aunt Ophelia, are seen clearly. And it’s through Sáenz’s very short chapters and dialogues that we get to know them all, even if partially. 

The first half of this book is simply a delightful ride where readers are taken back to the carefree days of adolescent yearning. Oh, to be young again! But not everything is just beautiful and fun, and about having a best friend to enjoy the summer with. Life is complicated and there are moments through these three sections that had us crying, suffering, and wondering how in the world these two wonderful boys were gonna dodge the curve balls life was throwing at them – sicknesses, accidents, sacrifices, departures. 

They go through it all.

Letters, Rain, and the Secrets of the Universe

Through the last three sections of the book titled, “Letters on a Page,” “Remember the Rain,” and “All the Secrets of the Universe,” Sáenz slowly transitions Ari and Dante’s relationship from a  friendship into a romance. Full of caring, personal moments, and heavy realizations about love, feelings, kisses, and past and present actions, the transition couldn’t be smoother.  

I bet you could sometimes find all of the mysteries of the universe in someone’s hand.”

(Aristotle Mendoza, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe)

Ari and Dante’s love story is frictionless, fated by the universe itself. There are no random plot twists, no complicated love triangles, and no excessive back-and-forth teen drama. Their love just exists. In fact, it’s always been there and it’s absolutely beautiful to watch how it slowly unravels itself. 

The plot is perfectly paced, with Sáenz carefully allowing both Ari and the reader to process everything and accept what we knew from the very moment Ari and Dante met: that they were meant to be. Ari never tells the reader how he truly feels about many things because he himself doesn’t know either, but it is through his actions that we know the answers. And everything, every move, every word, every past and present behavior, it all takes us to one single truth: Ari loves Dante – always has and always will. And that is simply lovely.

This was what was wrong with me. All this time I had been trying to figure out the secrets of the universe, the secrets of my own body, of my own heart. All of the answers had always been so close and yet I had always fought them without even knowing it. From the minute I’d met Dante, I had fallen in love with him. I just didn’t let myself know it, think it, feel it.”

(Aristotle Mendoza, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe)

Beautifully written, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe can resonate with any reader regardless of race, age, or sexual orientation. But for those of us who have struggled with accepting some part of ourselves at some point in our lives, this book is a powerful and moving story about self-discovery and self-love that can help you connect and heal parts of yourself that you didn’t know needed some TLC. 

Don’t miss our review of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe‘s sequel Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World coming out this Friday! (Psst: It’s our book of the month but shhh)

---

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is available for sale through most booksellers worldwide and in 24 different languages. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all queer stuff!