Book Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of The Universe
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Reviewed by Sylvan Bachhuber, age 14
Aristotle
and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
is a novel by Benjamin Alire Sáenz that takes
place in New Mexico. The story follows two boys as they discover who they are
and who they want to be. Reading this book helped me understand the personal
struggles some people face and the distances they have to travel to find a true
and genuine version of themselves.
At the beginning of the book, the main character, Aristotle, is lonely and
detached. After he befriends Dante, an artistic and caring person, his life is transformed. Throughout the book he and Dante share
adventures and open up to each other. Because of this friendship, Aristotle is
finally able to talk about his brother’s imprisonment, an event that had
haunted him for years. Dante also
shares his social insecurities and his fear of not fitting in. This book
highlights the power of friends and family, and shows what people can achieve
when they let their defenses down.
Although
this book was written in the third person, Benjamin Alire Sáenz paints an
intimate portrait of Aristotle. The beginning of the book seemed a bit slow and
drawn out. As it progressed, however, the writing deepened and the plot
thickened. By the end, I found this book to be a poignant and beautiful story.
Aristotle
and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
is best suited for teenagers, but is appropriate
for all ages. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an emotional
and entertaining story.
You can watch Sylvan's Book Trailer for Aristotle and Dante here.
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