A Newer Timeless YA Classic: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

 Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

    I thought Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe was such a heartwarming novel that tackled the theme of friendship--more specifically young men coming of age--so beautifully. The story follows two Mexican-American teenagers as they build their new friendship while navigating their identities, family life, and adolescence. The plot begins with the two main characters, Ari and Dante meeting at a public pool. At first, they seem like opposites but soon find many connections and commonalities. The story is an intimate look into a friendship between two boys, which is a breath of fresh air in a world where society pushes false ideals about what it means to be a "man."

• by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
• Published 2012
• Genre(s): Young Adult(YAL)Novel, realistic fiction, and bildungsroman/coming-of-age
• 359 pages

    I chose to add Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe to my reading stack because of the acclaim the book received after its publication along with reading that the the story follows two main characters who remind me of a former student who is also Mexican-American, male, and somewhat of a quiet, solitary person who had sensitive qualities, too. 

Notable Awards and Recognition

• Stonewall Book Award, 2013
• Pura Belpré Award, 2013
• Michael L. Printz Award Honor, 2013
• Lamda Literary Award, 2013
• School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 2012
• Kirkus Best YA Books, 2012
• Américas Award Commended Title, 2013
• Rainbow List, 2013

Classroom Considerations

    As with any YAL featured in YA Shelf Talk, I think it's important for educators and parents to consider the sensitivity of themes and topics addressed in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, as well as consider a student's--or group of students'--age and maturity.

    I'd recommend this book be used with students ages 14+ as there are mature and complex themes, such as LGBTQ+ topics, coming of age, and sexuality throughout.

Possible Read Aloud Excerpts

We weren't alike, Dante and I. But we did have a few things in common. For one thing, neither one of us was allowed to watch television during the day. Our parents didn't like what television did to a boy's mind. We'd both grown up with lectures that sounded more or less like this: You're a boy! Get out there and do something! There's a whole world out there just waiting for you...

~ From page 20 

I went home and looked up the word "inscrutable." It meant something that could not easily be understood. I wrote down all the synonyms in my journal. "Obscure." "Unfathomable." "Enigmatic." "Mysterious." That afternoon, I learned two new words. "Inscrutable." And "friend." Words were different when they lived inside of you.

~ From page 31 

"I knew I wasn't a boy anymore. But I still felt like a boy. Sort of. But there were other things I was starting to feel. Man things, I guess. Man loneliness was much bigger than boy loneliness. And I didn't want to be treated like a boy anymore. I didn't want to live in my parents' world and I didn't have a world of my own. In a strange way, my friendship with Dante had made me feel even more alone."

~ From page 81 

"...My mother and father sat on their outdoor rocking chairs. We drank coffee. My mother and father held hands. 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."

 Ideas for the classroom

1. Character Analysis

    I love the idea of facilitating an "If I were..." activity with students to explore the character traits and emotions of both main characters, Ari and Dante. This can help students relate and empathize with the characters in their own adolescence and their evolving relationship with one another. Ari narrates the story and oftentimes refers to his own loneliness as is evident in his observation that his mom has more of a social life than he does and in his feelings about his father's distance due to the trauma he faced during his time in the Vietnam War.

    I think fictional characters have a great deal of power in helping our students grow and strengthen their own empathy. Friendship and loneliness are underlying themes in the story and very real experiences for many students who are mature enough to read this novel in school.

    The "If I were..." activity could be used in a whole-class setting. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe could be the selected text or one of many students could choose from depending on their own interests.

2. Writer's Craft and Purpose

    This story follows two boys, who both possess sensitivity, loneliness, and feelings of not fitting in, as they are coming of age. These boys don't "fit the mold" for how many in our cultures perceive what it means to be a boy then grow into a man. I think the author, Benjamin Alire Sáenz purposefully did this so that many boys can see themselves in at least one of these characters.

    Sáenz also uses quite a bit of symbolism throughout the novel. Birds are used to symbolize one of the character's vulnerability. The community pool where the two main characters meet--they both were alone at the time--symbolizes the beginning of their friendship along with their transformation and personal growth.

    Examining author's purpose and/or craft could be used in a whole-class setting. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe could be the selected text or one of many students could choose from depending on their own interests. I think I'd always err on the side of choice of text--even if it's just between two.

Concluding Remarks

    Overall, I enjoyed the heartwarming story of Ari and Dante's relationship. I loved that the characters were teenage males and I loved both of their sets of parents as they both symbolized so much love for one another and for their boys. I also think Ari's narration of the story is very powerful in the raw emotions he shares with readers. I'd recommend this text as one of at least a few for various explorations in literature courses for students ages 14+.