Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe: Tenth Anniversary Edition

such a beautiful book, i related a lot to ari & loved his character development. if you like plot driven books, i wouldn’t read this because there is no main plot - (most coming of ages don’t have plot FWI) but it’s never boring.

Content Warnings

carlaaaaa's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional relaxing 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

4.0

I have this idea that the reason we have dreams is that we’re thinking about things that we don’t know we’re thinking about - and those things, well, they sneak out of us in our dreams. Maybe we’re like tires with too much air in them. The air has to leak out. That’s what dreams are.

I enjoyed reading about Dante’s and Ari’s friendship so much.
I wish I would have that kind of relationship with someone.

Content Warnings

justreaditem's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-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

4.0

This was such a sweet book. I love that Ari and Dante meet randomly because Ari wants to learn how to swim and Dante offers to teach him then ta da, they’re friends for life.

I found it odd, how Ari kept Dante separate from other aspects of his life, not his family but his school ‘friends’.

I loved how Dante liked everyone and was a sweet, kind boy, even if he hated shoes. His family showed that Mexicans and other Latino people are not the racist stereotypes that so many portray in books and films. His parents were in high paying, respectable jobs, as were Ari’s.

Dante’s matter of fact ness around his sexuality made me laugh so much. He liked kissing boys and that is that. I think that’s how a lot of people have felt.

Ari’s struggle to understand how he felt about Dante and around his lack of sexual attraction or desire is how I think a lot of people feel growing up. I think there should be an emphasis on the fact that you might not feel things as black and white as others, and actually, what love feels like to you is completely different for someone else.

I loved it. I just feel like it was a little long, hence I rated it 4 stars and not 5 stars.

I love that Lin-Manuel Miranda narrated it, too. And said ‘Alexander Hamilton’ multiple times throughout the book!

Content Warnings