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

Every single person who I have ever interacted with that has read this book indisputably fell in love with it. To be honest this makes up most of this people I know, a lot of the reason being that if you know me, then you know I will recommend this book until my grave.

“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?”

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

I rarely read an introduction to a book that touched me as much as Aristotle and Dante. The familiarity between Ari’s self dialogue resembles so much of my pre-pubescent angst and it astonishes me to how much I lived inside this character.

Aristotle and Dante hits home for a lot of people and allies in the LGBTQ community and especially for the ones of us who simultaneously belong to the hispanic community. I understand why when I first laid hands on this book the cover was boarded in award stickers and I also understand why this book is favorited by every queer reader.

“Words were different when they lived inside of you.”

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

Like most of the books I carry so heavily to my heart, I find a great difficulty writing a review that does justice to it. The novel carries through the story of two young gay boys in El Paso, Texas (another personal tie to the work) and through the dynamism of the boys who live completely different lives, their sexual identity is transcribed into an incredibly complex familiarity of the coming out of the closet experience. Through the telling of these two boys, Benjamin Alire Saenz presses down the exact thoughts, pain, and emotions that most of us living in the closet can attest to.

The first-person narrative of Aristotle, both straightforward and poetic, superbly exemplifies the skepticism and uncertainties of a teenage boy who has long held himself aloof. It is both melancholy and hopeful and honestly it is remarkable how Alire Saenz embodies all of us through the tale of two boys falling in love in a world that doesn’t want them to.

“Another secret of the universe: Sometimes pain was like a storm that came out of nowhere. The clearest summer could end in a downpour. Could end in lightning and thunder.”

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

The novel takes place in 1987 El Paso, Texas when homophobia and toxic masculinity were extremely prevalent and inhibited elements of the time. Their story as a couple while beautiful and spirited is a vital part of the work, but what Alire Saenz paramounts is their individual ability to progress as two homosexual people of color and how they perceive themselves and their identities. Aristotle and Dante combat with both internalized and societal deep-rooted homophobia and violence and through their encounters with some of the most brutal people they rise through the aggression and stigma beseeched upon them. These characters struggle with so much internalized shame, deep-rooted social stigma and violent homophobia and yet they remain brave and continue to find their love for one another and themselves.

But love was always something heavy for me. Something I had to carry.”

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

Aristotle coming to terms with his long standing internalized homophobia and Dante struggling with so much violence mirrors the extent of abuse towards the community that is both physical, verbal and subliminal.

I would like to also mention this as it is a topic that comes to mind whenever I mention queer visibility. Violence inside the queer community is perpetuated by everyone who perceives homosexuality as an indifference to society.

Reading a book that directly portrayed Dante as a victim of violence is one of the most difficult things to come to terms with because violence targeted to gay men and women is a silent epidemic in which people fail to realize their contributions. When ancient old family members speak of their gay cousins as abominations to the church and disgraces to the family name, while the discrimination is verbal and subtle, it enables actual perpetrators to physically continue their hate and it condones people to distinguish gay men and women from the hetero-based accepted thumb of society.

Every year when Pride comes back around and we hear, “what about straight pride?” or “what more rights could you possibly ask for?” it derails the historical endeavors that trans people and queer people fought against for decades, and it alludes to the idea that we are accepted in a society that continues to hate us.

Aristotle and Dante is one of the most beautifully written YA books for its depiction of the coming out experience, and its portrayal of falling in love and doing so in a straight-machismo dominated society. Every word appears to be carefully chosen, and it covers the experiences of most of us - especially being grounded in the 90’s and near a border city.

“How could I have ever been ashamed of loving Dante Quintana?”

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

The book is an absolute must read. I can’t tell you how many of us hold this so dear to our hearts. This book is perfection.

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They Both Die at the End - Adam Silvera