The novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, is a coming-of-age story about two Mexican-American teenagers, Aristotle “Ari” Mendoza and Dante Quintana, who don’t quite fit in with other kids their age. But, as their friendship blossoms, they explore their sexuality, cultural identity, and ‘normal’ teenage things such as alcohol, drugs, and love. 

Before meeting Dante Quintana, Ari Mendoza was a miserable and lonely 15-year-old who often got into fights. He felt disconnected from his family as his father has PTSD from his deployment in the Vietnam war, his older brother is in jail, and his older twin sisters make him feel “like a baby or a toy or a project or a pet” (Sáenz, 18) due to their 12 years age gap. Ari also didn’t fit in with boys his age and dreaded becoming like one of those “assholes” (Sáenz, 20) – referring to some lifeguard who made obscene remarks about girls. He was angry and sad at the world, even thinking that “being fifteen was the worst tragedy of all ” (Sáenz, 19).   

There is a famous saying that opposites attract, which is undoubtedly the case with Dante and Ari. Dante is open and friendly, while Ari is sometimes timid and aggressive. Dante is optimistic about the world, while Ari is pessimistic. Dante is a great swimmer and loves to analyze all kinds of literature, while Ari is a horrible swimmer and only reads “because [he doesn’t] have anything else to do” (Sáenz, 23). Dante’s family is open with affection, while Ari’s family is more reserved with their emotions– the list of opposites could go on and on.

Ari and Dante would go on to spend their entire summer together, reading comic books, arguing about trivial matters, and laughing, always laughing. As they got closer, Dante realized that he was gay, or at least interested in guys, and he was always honest about it, stating multiple times to Ari that he “was still experimenting with kissing girls [but]… he’d rather be kissing boys” (Sáenz, 168). Eventually, Dante started to perceive Ari as more than a friend; however, Ari does not reciprocate those feelings and denies being interested in men. Despite that, it is obvious to the readers from multiple instances – of Ari saving Dante in both the physical and emotional sense – that Ari cared deeply for Dante, perhaps more profoundly than a friend would. 

This book addresses internal turmoil well through both main characters. After saving Dante and the little bird from the car, Ari is physically and mentally broken. He is angry that he has to rely on Dante and his family members for the simplest things. Nightmares and flashbacks haunt Ari’s nights; nevertheless, this predicament enabled Ari to connect with his father like never before, as his father also suffers from the trauma. Meanwhile, Dante is no better off since he shoulders the guilt and blames himself for Ari’s injuries. Yet, even when their situations seem bleak, the boys help each other heal, and their relationship develops further. 

I recommend this book to teenagers or people lost in life. Numerous problems addressed in the book are relatable. The main characters experience mental health issues, confusion about identity, and social problems, and eventually, find ways to cope with or overcome them. Not only that, it is a fun book to read in general. The author captivates the readers’ attention and makes them want to finish the book in one sitting. 

I have nothing to dislike about this beautiful book filled with moments of devastation, ecstasy, confusion, and indignation that made me laugh and tear up. However, I absolutely adored this book's wholesome and tender moments between Ari and Dante. It showed character development and chemistry between the pair. Since the two are polar opposites, the little moments demonstrate how they fit together like two puzzle pieces. For those reasons, I rate this book a 10/10.