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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
(Aristotle and Dante #1)
by
A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they sha ...more
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they sha ...more
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Hardcover, 359 pages
Published
February 21st 2012
by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
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Start your review of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Aristotle and Dante, #1)
3 STEPS TO BECOME ME, THOMAS:
1. Obtain a copy of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.
2. Read the book.
3. Fall in love. Fall in love with the writing, the characters, everything. Read past midnight, read in school, read everywhere and all the time. Slam the book shut and whisper-scream oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. At the end of the book, allow a single tear to run down your right cheek and say a silent prayer of thanks for the fact that you are able to read at all.
Perh ...more
1. Obtain a copy of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.
2. Read the book.
3. Fall in love. Fall in love with the writing, the characters, everything. Read past midnight, read in school, read everywhere and all the time. Slam the book shut and whisper-scream oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. At the end of the book, allow a single tear to run down your right cheek and say a silent prayer of thanks for the fact that you are able to read at all.
Perh ...more
I have been saving this book. Just waiting for the right moment for us to come together and love one another. And this book is fine, I guess. It's okay. But I really don't see the magic that prompted so many five star ratings and literary awards.
It's weird because I was sure we were meant for each other. A Printz Honor book featuring a gay romance between two quirky characters - one of whom is a rough guy who gets into fights and has a complicated relationship with his father; the other being a ...more
It's weird because I was sure we were meant for each other. A Printz Honor book featuring a gay romance between two quirky characters - one of whom is a rough guy who gets into fights and has a complicated relationship with his father; the other being a ...more
YA realistic fiction.
This book has won so many awards I could barely see the cover under all the stickers! After reading it, I understood why it gets so much praise. Sáenz tells the story of two young men, Aristotle “Ari” Mendoza and Dante Quintana growing up in El Paso, Texas during the 1980s. We follow their lives from age fifteen to seventeen, watching their relationship slowly grow, change and strengthen. Told from Ari’s point of view, the novel is crafted in short, lyrical chapters. The pro ...more
This book has won so many awards I could barely see the cover under all the stickers! After reading it, I understood why it gets so much praise. Sáenz tells the story of two young men, Aristotle “Ari” Mendoza and Dante Quintana growing up in El Paso, Texas during the 1980s. We follow their lives from age fifteen to seventeen, watching their relationship slowly grow, change and strengthen. Told from Ari’s point of view, the novel is crafted in short, lyrical chapters. The pro ...more
This book was so so beautiful.
In actuality, it doesn't have a "plot". Not a main story or event that the characters center around. It's about a boy. It's a story about a boy who is sad and angry and can't figure out why. It's about him trying to love himself and others. It's about the teenage condition and mentality.
Let's talk about why I loved it. Mainly, I loved the mood and tone. It made me feel mellow and warm. I liked that it was slow paced, that it felt like real life with small but impo ...more
In actuality, it doesn't have a "plot". Not a main story or event that the characters center around. It's about a boy. It's a story about a boy who is sad and angry and can't figure out why. It's about him trying to love himself and others. It's about the teenage condition and mentality.
Let's talk about why I loved it. Mainly, I loved the mood and tone. It made me feel mellow and warm. I liked that it was slow paced, that it felt like real life with small but impo ...more
I'M NOT CRYING YOU'RE CRYING
...more
“The summer sun was not meant for boys like me. Boys like me belonged to the rain.”
I've heard so many good things about this novel and seen it all over Tumblr. I wanted to read this so badly, which is why I finally, finally got my hands on a copy and started reading right away. I also finished reading it right away.
My thoughts:
Well, first of all, I love the way I can identify with Ari and Dante, but especially with Ari. Sometimes his stubbornness got on my nerves and I wanted to shake him and te ...more
I've heard so many good things about this novel and seen it all over Tumblr. I wanted to read this so badly, which is why I finally, finally got my hands on a copy and started reading right away. I also finished reading it right away.
My thoughts:
Well, first of all, I love the way I can identify with Ari and Dante, but especially with Ari. Sometimes his stubbornness got on my nerves and I wanted to shake him and te ...more
Jan 10, 2014
Claudia Ramírez
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
favorites,
perfection,
cover-love,
unique-writing-style,
2014,
made-me-cry,
i-ship-them,
happy-tears,
top-2014
I'M CRYING. THIS BOOK WAS BEAUTIFUL.
...more
Here's to Sam for being the coolest dad of the universe
...more
Sep 03, 2018
Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
young-adult,
favorites
”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?”
I think I rarely read an introduction to a book that touched me as much as this one did. It were exactly questions like that I asked myself when I was a young and confused teen. I was always more serious than the other kids ...more
I think I rarely read an introduction to a book that touched me as much as this one did. It were exactly questions like that I asked myself when I was a young and confused teen. I was always more serious than the other kids ...more
i really thought this was going to be a slam-dunk of a book. all those prestigious awards and recognitions, a gay coming-of-age story that got the coveted dana stamp of approval, that cover….
and it is not a bad book, not by a long shot; i definitely enjoyed reading it. it just doesn't transcend its YA status like so many YA books do. this is an excellent book for its audience, but for me, it doesn't have that crossover appeal that so many recent YA titles have had.
it gets points for featuring a ...more
and it is not a bad book, not by a long shot; i definitely enjoyed reading it. it just doesn't transcend its YA status like so many YA books do. this is an excellent book for its audience, but for me, it doesn't have that crossover appeal that so many recent YA titles have had.
it gets points for featuring a ...more
“Maybe we just lived between hurting and healing.”
I put off writing this review for months and months. Not because I didn't want to write it - I did. Believe me, I've worked this draft over and over like it's my magnum opus. I just wanted to get this review right, and to really communicate exactly how much this book means to me. I failed, but I did my best.
This review is going to be grossly personal, because this book meant so much to me personally. To me it wasn't just a cute book or a f ...more
Absolutely beautiful.
Such an amazing story about love, identity, and family. I really feel everyone should read this book.
This book is perfection
you know what??? it was a REALLY good idea to reread this book (3/14/20: for the third time) I mean it’s not like I sobbed myself to sleep at 1am last night or anything
Apr 30, 2014
Hailey (Hailey in Bookland)
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
owned,
contemporary
Update Feb 2017
Lowering my rating to 3 stars since I think 4.5 was super duper generous
4.5*
I just didn't really love it as much as I had thought I would. Another case of a book being too hyped up for it to possibly live up to my expectations unfortunately.
That being said I did still really enjoy it and thing it was a beautiful story, pretty similar to some other books I've read though. ...more
Lowering my rating to 3 stars since I think 4.5 was super duper generous
4.5*
I just didn't really love it as much as I had thought I would. Another case of a book being too hyped up for it to possibly live up to my expectations unfortunately.
That being said I did still really enjoy it and thing it was a beautiful story, pretty similar to some other books I've read though. ...more
I remember I finished this book crying so hard I was shaking, in a good way, and then reading it twice more in the trip I finished it on because I loved it so much.
* This review contains spoilers.
Aristotle Mendoza is young and angry. With his brother in prison for assault, and his father loving but haunted by the Vietnam war, his main solace is in his friendship with a boy named Dante. Friendship would be his description of their relationship; when Dante kisses him around halfway through, he ...more
* This review contains spoilers.
Aristotle Mendoza is young and angry. With his brother in prison for assault, and his father loving but haunted by the Vietnam war, his main solace is in his friendship with a boy named Dante. Friendship would be his description of their relationship; when Dante kisses him around halfway through, he ...more
2nd read: March 2019 (audiobook)
★★★★★
I loved this even more than I did the first time. An absolute favourite.
1st read: Sep-Oct 2017 (audiobook)
★★★★★
speechless.
★★★★★
I loved this even more than I did the first time. An absolute favourite.
1st read: Sep-Oct 2017 (audiobook)
★★★★★
speechless.
okay, im bumping up my original rating because sometimes i find myself randomly thinking about this book, even months after finishing this, so obviously i liked it more than i initially thought i did.
this was a sweet and touching story, but i keep coming back to the way the story was told. the writing was honestly of the highest quality. it was pure and raw and just so dang honest. i dont think i have ever related to a teenaged boy before, but this book changed that. the characters were just so ...more
this was a sweet and touching story, but i keep coming back to the way the story was told. the writing was honestly of the highest quality. it was pure and raw and just so dang honest. i dont think i have ever related to a teenaged boy before, but this book changed that. the characters were just so ...more
Jun 03, 2014
C.G. Drews
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
contemporary,
5-star,
read-2017,
read-2014,
audio-books,
young-adult,
reread,
ya-male-narrators
REREAD: JULY 2017
Okay wow. Just wow. You know how there are some books you love but then when you come back to reread, you realise you truly adore them SO MUCH YOU HAVE NO WORDS??? Because I'm having that moment. This is an emotional, painful and beautiful book and I hAVE feelings. omg. I swear I love this 53 x more than the first time I read it. I need more stars??
SMOL LIST OF THOUGHTS DURING MY REREAD:
• I listened to the audio (narrated by Lin-Manuel Miranda!) and it was sooooo good. Absolutel ...more
Okay wow. Just wow. You know how there are some books you love but then when you come back to reread, you realise you truly adore them SO MUCH YOU HAVE NO WORDS??? Because I'm having that moment. This is an emotional, painful and beautiful book and I hAVE feelings. omg. I swear I love this 53 x more than the first time I read it. I need more stars??
SMOL LIST OF THOUGHTS DURING MY REREAD:
• I listened to the audio (narrated by Lin-Manuel Miranda!) and it was sooooo good. Absolutel ...more
***This one cannot go wrong if you are looking for something to read
YA done right💞
*Dante, you make me want to speak Spanish. Oh, I simply don't know why*
*what I loved:
✨The amazing writing style
✨The character development and the various character representations
✨The slow burn romance
✨The realistic plot
✨Young adult theme done right
✨And it's the short chapters that kept me rushing through the book! Actually this is the first book I wish the chapters were longer and the chapters would just go on a ...more
YA done right💞
*Dante, you make me want to speak Spanish. Oh, I simply don't know why*
*what I loved:
✨The amazing writing style
✨The character development and the various character representations
✨The slow burn romance
✨The realistic plot
✨Young adult theme done right
✨And it's the short chapters that kept me rushing through the book! Actually this is the first book I wish the chapters were longer and the chapters would just go on a ...more
Do you remember the feeling you get when you watch the sun rise or set?
Do you remember the feeling you get when you're so happy that you felt like flying?
Do you remember the feeling you get when you're so sad and alone that you felt like curling yourself into a ball and wishing you never had to move on?
Do you remember the feeling you get when you're so mad that you don't know why your mad?
Do you remember the feeling you get when you wished you knew the mysteries of life?
Well, this book brought u ...more
Do you remember the feeling you get when you're so happy that you felt like flying?
Do you remember the feeling you get when you're so sad and alone that you felt like curling yourself into a ball and wishing you never had to move on?
Do you remember the feeling you get when you're so mad that you don't know why your mad?
Do you remember the feeling you get when you wished you knew the mysteries of life?
Well, this book brought u ...more
Apr 06, 2017
may ❀
rated it
it was ok
Shelves:
300-pgs,
contemporary,
male-pov,
look-at-that-beauty,
meh,
in-the-trash-you-go,
bye,
n-o-p-e,
duology
So, this is probably going to be the last review I write bc I don’t think I’m going to survive the boycotting my friends are going to inflict on me after I roast this book.
Firstly, I want to apologize to the world.
Secondly, WHAT THE HECK WAS THE POINT OF THIS BOOK??!!??
So the beginning was cute. It was cute in a middle-school-book kinda way. But going in thinking this was YA and getting an onslaught of 99% CONVERSATION and 0% PLOT made me feel ripped off.
I must say though, I appreciate the di ...more
Firstly, I want to apologize to the world.
Secondly, WHAT THE HECK WAS THE POINT OF THIS BOOK??!!??
So the beginning was cute. It was cute in a middle-school-book kinda way. But going in thinking this was YA and getting an onslaught of 99% CONVERSATION and 0% PLOT made me feel ripped off.
I must say though, I appreciate the di ...more
Reread for a challenge in one of my groups and omg, I forgot how much I loved it!
One of my favorite quotes:
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
There are almost no words for how much I loved this book. I got chills, I cried, I got ma ...more
One of my favorite quotes:
So I named myself Ari
If I switched the letter, my name was Air
I thought it might be a great thing to be the air
I could be something and nothing at the same time. I could be necessary and also invisible. Everyone would need me and no one would be able to see me
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
There are almost no words for how much I loved this book. I got chills, I cried, I got ma ...more
each time i read this it just gets better and better
"As Dante was watching me search the sky through the lens of a telescope, he whispered, 'Someday, I'm going to discover all of the secrets of the universe.'"
All of the stars in the universe - an instant favourite. As some of you may know, I'm a sucker for a good coming-of-age love story, and this one completely delivered. I read this in one sitting. One. I don't think you understand, I'm ADHD, I hardly ever finish a book in one sitting. But this book? I refused to put it down. I said I'd r ...more
All of the stars in the universe - an instant favourite. As some of you may know, I'm a sucker for a good coming-of-age love story, and this one completely delivered. I read this in one sitting. One. I don't think you understand, I'm ADHD, I hardly ever finish a book in one sitting. But this book? I refused to put it down. I said I'd r ...more
This was such a quick read!
I can definitely understand why so many people love this book - had tears in my eyes a few times!
I can definitely understand why so many people love this book - had tears in my eyes a few times!
This is the second time I've read this book now and I still have no words...
This book is honestly the most beautiful book I have ever read. It's so precious and I deeply connect with it in a way that I don't often do when reading a book.
This book truly is a blessing and I beg you all to read it. It's so important and well written and real and stunning and precious and true and perfect I just can't even express it!!!! ...more
This book is honestly the most beautiful book I have ever read. It's so precious and I deeply connect with it in a way that I don't often do when reading a book.
This book truly is a blessing and I beg you all to read it. It's so important and well written and real and stunning and precious and true and perfect I just can't even express it!!!! ...more
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There is a series of YA LGBT books that I have always been curious about due to their huge success and this is one of them. I had a feeling it was not the book for me and despite that I found a paperback at the local store and couldn’t resist the urge to buy it. Now the secret of the universe that is baffling me is why is this such a successful book?I expected something unique, something fr ...more
“Maybe we just lived between hurting and healing.”
There is a series of YA LGBT books that I have always been curious about due to their huge success and this is one of them. I had a feeling it was not the book for me and despite that I found a paperback at the local store and couldn’t resist the urge to buy it. Now the secret of the universe that is baffling me is why is this such a successful book?I expected something unique, something fr ...more
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| Reading by Candle...: Aristotle and Dante Discover the secrets of the universe BOTM discussion | 3 | 18 | Feb 26, 2021 12:04PM |
Readers also enjoyed
Benjamin Alire Sáenz (born 16 August 1954) is an award-winning American poet, novelist and writer of children's books.
He was born at Old Picacho, New Mexico, the fourth of seven children, and was raised on a small farm near Mesilla, New Mexico. He graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1972. That fall, he entered St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado where he received a B.A. degree in Humaniti ...more
He was born at Old Picacho, New Mexico, the fourth of seven children, and was raised on a small farm near Mesilla, New Mexico. He graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1972. That fall, he entered St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado where he received a B.A. degree in Humaniti ...more
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Aristotle and Dante
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“I bet you could sometimes find all the mysteries of the universe in someone's hand.”
—
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“Words were different when they lived inside of you.”
—
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Feb 20, 2021 02:02PM
Feb 27, 2021 04:57AM