Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: February 21st, 2012
Source: Library
Date Read: 7/21/14 to 7/24/14
359 Pages
Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰

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 share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

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HOW DO I EVEN PUT MY FEELINGS INTO WORDS?????

This book. This BOOK. THIS BOOK.

Honestly, I don't know what to say. Sure, I knew how good it was when I first borrowed it from the library. But did I expect this awesomeness? No, no I didn't.

Where do I even start?

Honestly, I've concluded that writing this review of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is the most frustrating, hardest thing I've done this summer. This is not an exaggeration. Somehow a story about how a boy, meets another boy, and then becomes the best of friends, has made me speechless.

Reasons why this review will be short:

• I refuse to spoil this amazing book. I feel like anything I say will be a spoiler, so I will leave you in just as much mystery as I was in before I picked this up. And look at me now, I'm at a loss for words

• I'm tempted to say nothing happens, BUT THAT IS A LIE. A lot of things happen. A lot of things I do really, REALLY want to talk about, but can't because of bullet point above.

• I just, this book. I don't even have any words. I am out of words, and this review will do no justice to how amazing this book is

Though, I do want to mention how amazing the parents were in this, both Aristotle's and Dante's. After books and books of YA protagonists going on adventures without any sort of parentals involved, this was an absolute refresher. Seriously, Ari and Dante love their parents, and I love their parents too. And the dog, Legs. I WOULD NAME A DOG "LEGS" AT THIS POINT. And then ARI AND DANTE THEMSELVES ARE BEAUTIFUL.

Oh, and there is no end to how many times you can quote this book. Seriously, you could just quote the whole book and I wouldn't care. It's all gold. Especially since most of it is dialogue. Short dialogue too, but MEANINGFUL and so INSIGHTFUL, and GAH. This was actually a really fast read for me because of that.

DO YOU WANT EXAMPLES, HERE LET ME GIVE THEM TO YOU:

“I wondered what that was like, to hold someone’s hand. I bet you could sometimes find all of the mysteries of the universe in someone’s hand.”

“He tried not to laugh, but he wasn't good at controlling all the laughter that lived inside of him.”

“Do you think it will always be this way?"
"What?"
"I mean, when do we start feeling like the world belongs to us?"
I wanted to tell him that the world would never belong to us. "I don't know," I said. "Tomorrow.”

Yes, I do recommend this to everyone. I know, this review probably didn't tell you anything about the book, but really, I think that this is how it should be. Because right now, I'm an emotional mess and this book is to blame.