Monday, January 6, 2020

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 Sáenz

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


I love this story. I love these characters. I now know why this book has won so many awards. It is simply an amazing story from start to finish.

Ari and Dante leave their growing pains on these pages. Trying to piece together who they are, who their parents are and how they fit into a world that defines them as Mexican Americans in the 1980s. Ari cover a lot of ground when it comes to secrets of the universe and really digs deep into himself and his family to find those answers. A journey many teenagers don't have the emotional maturity to take just yet.

Everything about this book was just beautiful. The boys both go through some very painful events and explore the trauma that many around them have also endured and overcome. "Scars. A sign that you had been hurt. A sign that you had healed." 

 I have two small boys and this book really went to my core. I hope my boys are kind, smart, funny and thinkers like Ari and Dante both. When Dante says "Wanna know a secret? I'm in love with my parents." My heart stilled. The responsibility and respect for their parents while their teenage hearts beat for rebellion was beautiful.

I plan to read this book once a year. To remind myself of the relationship I wish to have with my boys. Ari and his family, Dante and his, will be with me for a very long time.

Also, I listened to the audio version of this book this time around and Lin Manuel Miranda was the narrator. He is the perfect voice for Ari. I also love his Gina.


Favorite Quotes:

  “I came to understand that my father was a careful man. To be careful with people and with words was a rare and beautiful thing.” 

 “And it seemed to me that Dante's face was a map of the world. A world without any darkness."

  “Sometimes, you do things and you do them not because you're thinking but because you're feeling. Because you're feeling too much. And you can't always control the things you do when you're feeling too much.” 

  “Scars. A sign that you had been hurt. A sign that you had healed.”


Genre:

YA, LGBTQ, Romance, Fiction
 

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