Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

By: Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Narrated by: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Now a major motion picture starring Max Pelayo, Reese Gonzales, and Eva Longoria!
A Time Best YA Book of All Time (2021)

This Printz Honor Book is a “tender, honest exploration of identity” (Publishers Weekly) that distills lyrical truths about family and friendship.

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.

A brilliant gem in a sea of mediocrity

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It's a heartwarming, heart-wrenching, sweet, sad, laugh-out-loud funny, coming-of-age story so deftly told by Mr. Saenz. A better narrator, Mr. Miranda, could not have been chosen. This book will stay with me for the rest of my life. I will never look at teens the same.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Both the main characters and their parents were special beyond words.

Which scene was your favorite?

The entire book was fabulous, even though I think I went through a box of Kleenex.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I don't have time to listen to any audio book in one sitting. I mostly listened to this one in my car and on my long bike rides, as I do all my audio books. Very satisfactory.

Any additional comments?

I simply cannot recommend this book highly enough. To teens and young adults, to parents, to fans of the mm genre... to just about anyone. Oh how I loved it!

great book but lame ending

The ending felt very forced and really watered down a good message. I don't like the narrative that a person wouldn't risk themselves to save someone else's life unless they were sexually attracted to them. Other than that, it's a great story of friendship and the transition to adulthood we all go through.

poignant and poetic and truly authentic

Beautiful and poetic writing combine with important messages of self discovery at a most trying time; adolescence. Benjamin Alire Saenz is a writer who speaks clearly to a broad audience and provides both insight and poetry in one beautiful package. As an artist and teacher, I am inspired to read more of his works. I will most certainly recommend this book to others of various ages.

a perfect performance for a phenomenal book

Miranda was an excellent choice for this beautiful book. Moving, masterful, and dripping in the beauty of raw humanity. Wonderful.

beautiful

this book was amazing it covers so many topics that need to be covered. This book was honestly pure beauty.