Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

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

78 reviews

veritea's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Violence

Moderate: Mental illness, Car accident, and Murder

sashahc's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• 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

I just finished reading “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Saénz.  WHOA.  It was A LOT.  Beautiful, melancholy, intense.  Not a cozy read, but if you want the heartbreak of being a serious teenager on the outskirts, it’s a good one.  There’s a reason it won all the awards.  #book

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness and Medical trauma

Minor: Racism

makoshark44's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Hate crime

Minor: Mental illness, Transphobia, Murder, and War

this book was a really well written and poetic mlm y/a coming of age, you come to love the characters quickly and the plot is both fast moving but complex at later points. i really recommend this ill be reading the sequel next!

genevieve_eggleston's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, and Outing

jadencove's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Violence, Medical content, Car accident, and Murder

livia_jewel's review

emotional lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Alcohol

gabriella_'s review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Benjamin Alire Sáenz put so much heart into this book. I wish I read this when I was a kid - I think I would’ve enjoyed it more when I was younger. The way he writes dialogue is fun. The way he writes emotional availability (and unavailability) feels so textured you can almost touch it. The character dynamics - especially Aristotle’s and Dante’s - have a whimsy that makes you feel young while you’re reading. 

This is a quick read if you’re in the mood for a pick-me-up coming-of-age with substance! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, and War

bluebreex's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Mental illness, and War

Minor: Death

daringreader13's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Outing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

hobbithopeful's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• 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

You ever read a book and after you finish it you just sit there for awhile? Thinking about the story, the characters, and the world. I finished reading this and I just had to take a moment to say "wow." Thought provoking and emotional, Ari's tendency to get lost in his own head and thoughts flowed from page to page. All of his hurt, anger, and seemingly uncaring attitude were emotions that resonated so deeply within me as I read through the chapters.
I feel like whenever I read coming of age books I am always bracing myself for something traumatic, or deeply depressing to happen. I am happy to inform you that while this book is emotional and does have sad moments, it does not have an all encompassing event that seems to be in way too many coming of age books. The relationship Ari has with his family and even Dante was so realistically depicted, and so telling of what Ari is actually feeling on the inside.
When you spend your whole life not wanting to admit who you are, it's hard to find worth in anything.
I think at its heart this is a story of discovering yourself, friendship, and love. A must read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail