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

Aristotle and Dante are unlikely friends: Ari up his anger at his father, his imprisoned older brother, and his confusion over his identity. Dante is self-assured and kind. The friendship that Ari and Dante share withstands a summer of near-fatal accidents and a long school year of separation that ultimately forces the boys to face their questions about identity and their relationship.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a thoughtful, beautifully written novel punctuated with moments of quiet humor and heartbreak. Ari’s endless questions about what it means to be an adult and a man, his fractured family, and the secrets of the universe preoccupy most of the book, but eventually lead him to his biggest question: how he really feels about Dante. Communication is a big theme in this book as Ari learns how to connect and talk with his father, how to talk with his mom about hard subjects, and how to get past the easy subjects of conversations with Dante to talk about love and his feelings of inadequacy. Every quiet moment is important in this story of exploration, identity, friendship, and love.

Cover Comments: I love the colors in this cover and the title treatment. It is really beautiful without being overly feminine or too swoopy, and I love the drawings against the night sky. I'm glad that the red truck makes an appearance in the corner--so perfect.

Book borrowed from a friend.