Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Through their friendship, Ari and Dante help each other discover the answers to difficult questions surrounding their identities. Ari also realizes that his parents are human, a reflection of another facet of the mystery of love. He realizes that the painful journey to adulthood does not insulate one from heartache, pain, or nightmares. Aristotle discovers the answers to the questions that plague him, including why his father is so silent, and why nobody talks about his older brother, Bernardo. Dante is beaten up badly by a group of boys who see him kissing another boy, and Ari comes to Dante’s defense only to realize that he loves Dante.Īs Dante teaches Ari how to be vulnerable, Ari begins to ask his parents questions he was too afraid to ask before. Dante and Ari both experiment with kissing girls, but Dante realizes that he would rather kiss boys. Dante moves to Chicago and the distance puts a strain on their friendship. When a car swerves in the street, Ari risks his life to save Dante and ends up in the hospital with broken legs. The boys help each other endure their loneliness, and in each other they discover a path toward happiness however, they do not arrive there without overcoming many obstacles first. He reads poetry, cries over a dead bird, and shows his emotions readily. He is desperate for guidance as he navigates the rough waters of his teenage years, but he finds no help anywhere until he meets Dante Quintana at the swimming pool. As Ari waits for his real life to begin, he broods by himself, wonders about his older brother Bernardo who is in prison, and wishes his life was different. He is a teenage Latino boy growing up in El Paso, Texas, and is “a mystery even to self” (16). Aristotle “Ari” Mendoza is the main character in this coming-of-age story.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz