Bibliographic Data
Sáenz, Benjamin Alire, and Chloë
Foglia. 2012. Aristotle and Dante
Discover the Secrets of the Universe. New York: Simon & Schuster BFYR.
ISBN: 9781442408920
Brief Plot Summary
Set in El Paso during the late 1980s
sixteen year old Aristotle “Ari” Mendoza is a loner. His father is emotionally
distant and suffers from PTSD, a result of the Vietnam War. His mother refuses
to talk about why Ari’s older brother is in prison. Left alone with his
thoughts Ari cannot understand why he is so angry. Then he meets Dante Quintana
at the local pool, his first friend. As they grow closer their friendship is
tested ultimately leading to discovering the secrets of their own universe.
Critical Analysis
The characters of this book
represent several under represented groups of people making this an excellent
read to promote diversity. Most of the characters are Mexican American. Ari is
a sensitive boy. The story is also about the development of a romantic
relationship between two teen boys.
Many of the cultural markers in this
book are of Mexican Americans. Ari and his family as well as Dante and his
family are Mexican American. Many other characters are also Mexican American
like Gina Navarro and the Gomez brothers. Their last names are Hispanic: Gomez,
Mendoza, Quintana, and Navarro. Aristotle’s first name is Angel, pronounced
Ahn-hel. When Ari and Dante first meet the muse about their names. They also
muse about the names of others like Dante’s aunt Soledad and how his family
calls her cho-lay. Dante figures that shortening Soledad that way must be a
Mexican thing.
Ari and Dante talk often about how
Mexican they are. In doing so they display cultural markers of their physical
appearance, language, etc. Ari says, “I was darker than he was” (2012, p. 20)
when he first notices Dante. Dante is insecure in his “Mexican-ness” not only
because of his lighter skin, but he does not speak Spanish like Ari does. Dante
is far from the stereotypes of Mexicans and it unfortunately causes him to feel
like he does not identify with them. He thinks that other Mexicans do not like
him. The text is dialogue heavy, but is not loaded with stereotypical Mexican
dialect. Ari and Dante are very deep teens. They discuss thoughts and feelings.
They are emotional people, even though Ari does not always express it.
Ari is a non-stereotypical sensitive
boy. He is actually very typically masculine. Saenz describes his handsome
features. Ari loves cars, especially his new chromed truck. He instigates
fights and beats other men up. Ari works out too. However he is truly a
sensitive boy. He keeps a journal. Even though he does not always verbalize his
emotions to other characters he does to the reader. He speculates about his
dreams and what love is. He also feels sorry for himself, “Feeling sorry for
myself was an art. I think a part of me liked doing that” (2012, p.13). One of
Ari’s favorite things to do was drive out to the desert and just think. He said
that he liked listening to what his mother thought (2012, p. 92). Despite his
father’s distance he called himself sentimental for wearing and loving his
dad’s old shirt. Ari even admits his feelings for Dante early in the book
although he may not know to what extend he meant his words, “I really liked
him. I really, really, liked him” (2012, p. 35).
Although the characters are of the
same background they are all individuals and are represented as very different
people. This is an excellent, accurate, and respectful way to portray members
of any minority group. Their personalities vary. No one is stereotyped. I
highly recommend this book for anyone ready to enjoy a beautiful love story
between two teen boys. The characters are multi-dimensional, Mexican American
teens and their story is a beautiful and emotional depiction of their
relationship.
Awards & Best Books
Michael L. Printz Award, 2013 Honor Book United States
Pura Belpre Award, 2013 Winner Author United States
Stonewall Book Award, 2013 Winner Children's and Young Adult
Literature United States
Best Audiobooks, 2013 AudioFile ; Best Books
Choices, 2013 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Kirkus Book Review Stars, May 1, 2012
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, December 19, 2011 Cahners
Rainbow List, 2013 American Library Association
School Library Journal Best Books, 2012
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, February 2012 Cahners
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2013 American Library
Association
YALSA Top Ten Best Books for Young
Adults, 2013 ; Top Ten
Review Excerpt(s)
“Written with patient and lyrical
prose that explores the boys' emotional lives with butterfly-wing delicacy.” -
Karen Coats (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,
March 2012 (Vol. 65, No. 7))
“And that's exactly what Saenz does he treats his characters
carefully, giving them space and time to find their place in the world, and to
find each other.”
- Ann
Kelley (Booklist, Jan. 1, 2012 (Vol. 108, No. 9))
“Ultimately, Saenz 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.”
- Joanna
Lima (VOYA, February 2012 (Vol. 34, No. 6))
Connections
Similar authors: Alex Sanchez and
David Levithan
NoveList Plus read alikes:
The Absolutely True
Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
The Book of Broken
Hearts by Sarah Ockler
Tommy Stands Alone
by Gloria Velasquez
Am I Blue
(short story collection)
Ask the Passengers
by A.S. King
The Miseducation of Cameron Post
by Emily Danforth
