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Reviews tagging 'Drug use'
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
234 reviews
melli29_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Car accident and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Hate crime and Homophobia
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, War, and Animal cruelty
rubberrosebooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's only January, but I already know this will be one of my favorite books of 2024. I'll be reading the sequel immediately!
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Violence, War, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Car accident
mikeymara's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Car accident
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, War, Alcohol, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Grief
Minor: Animal death and Bullying
mjadeh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: War, Car accident, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Alcohol, Animal death, and Cursing
Minor: Murder and Transphobia
mxdegroot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There's not much to say about Sáenz's writing style except that it has to suit you. The quick dialogue and fairly short sentences made for a fast paced read, but also a lack of character development. As much as I found myself relating to Ari, it was hard to really get into his head, and there was barely anything in the story itself that really hinted at his feelings for Dante.
Nonetheless, this was a beautiful book. Everyone had their flaws and learned from them, both Ari's and Dante's parents were flawed but loveable, and it was a very good portrayal of the type of teenage experience that is barely betrayed in any medium of media.
minor tw: transphobia
The one thing that did really bother me was the transvestite comment at the end. After the way homosexuality was handled all throughout the book, you'd think this would have been handled better.
Graphic: Medical content and Car accident
Moderate: Hate crime and Homophobia
Minor: Drug use, Murder, and Alcohol
erikagibson126's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Cursing, Grief, Homophobia, Hate crime, and Car accident
Moderate: Drug abuse, Outing, Alcohol, Death, Confinement, Sexual content, Classism, Drug use, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Sexual violence, and Transphobia
packedjam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Hate crime, and Car accident
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Transphobia, and Medical content
Minor: War, Murder, Vomit, Drug use, Outing, and Alcohol
yasidiaz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Not to get too personal, but I've been meaning to read this book almost since it came out. And you might be thinking, "But this book came in 2012, why it took you so long?" Well, being a closeted bisexual with so much internalized homophobia does that to you. I'm sure 13-year-old me knew that if I read this book I couldn't keep denying it and that it scared middle-schooler me so much. And it makes me sad that little kid let their fears make them miss such a beautiful book for so long. I wish 13-year-old and 15-year-old Yasi could see that there was nothing wrong with loving girls and boys.
Just like Ari, I was ashamed and scared of it. But now, just like Ari, I wonder how could I have been so ashamed of being who I am.
I hope many other kids like Ari and I get their hands on this book and see there is nothing wrong with them. I hope anyone who felt ashamed of their sexuality reads this book and sees there is nothing wrong with loving who we love.
The book is bittersweet and complex. None of the characters are perfect and that is the point. It makes the reading much more interesting and it works for a book so character-driven.
If you are looking for a complex and bittersweet story with a hopeful and inspiring ending, this is the book for you.
Graphic: Homophobia, Drug use, and Hate crime
Moderate: Transphobia
e_emmaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Alcohol
robinks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Hate crime, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, War, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Racism, Drug use, Car accident, Cursing, Dysphoria, Lesbophobia, Grief, and Medical content
Minor: Murder, Pregnancy, Transphobia, Death, and Sexual assault