Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe: Tenth Anniversary Edition by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

144 reviews

lilshelly's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

I didn't know what to expect going into this book, but sometimes that's the best option. We quickly meet Aristotle and Dante, both named after famous literary references. I found a small happiness in that revelation, letting my literary focused heart latch on to these young boys in their coming of age story. I also resonated with their desires to be known by something other than their parent-given names, and enjoyed the contrast in ultimate acceptance between the two. 

I deeply enjoyed the contrast in their characters and found myself resonating with both of them in different ways: Dante with his vulnerability and love of literature and Ari with his self-doubt and internalized anger. They balanced each other out in a beautifully poetic manner. All we really want in life is for someone to listen and allow us to be vulnerable. 

Reading this book allowed me to discover my own secrets to the universe. I hope others can find the same solace in the pages of Ari and Dante's journey.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: War, Transphobia, Medical content, Drug use, and Murder

xandry's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Car accident

Moderate: Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Homophobia, Hate crime, and Violence

Minor: Death and War

meeklovestoread's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.25

Honestly, the one reason why this book wasn't five stars is because I've kind of gotten outgrown the whole "ya-coming-of-age" storylines. I've just seen them done many times so I recognize many of the themes the author was trying to portray, however, that doesn't mean the book's message and storyline didn't land. On the contrary, I teared up multiple times, and the last hundred pages completely destroyed me. I was sobbing beyond belief. Like I could feel the pain inside me (it left both a good and bad feeling in me, to be honest).  I really identify with the main character, Ari (Aristotle). His struggles of finding himself, the pain he faces, the questions he has no answers to, the conflicts he faces with loneliness and anger really resonated with me. And I absolutely adored Dante through and through. And I loved their parents and the friendship that sprouted between them too.  I didn't really expect this book to hit as hard as it did, but it definitely delivered on my expectations and I'm so happy to read the second book. However, I wasn't really sold on the romance part of this book. I feel like their friendship reigned true for me more.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Car accident

Minor: Alcohol, Murder, Abandonment, and Cursing

navayiota's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

For me, this was one of those books that I procrastinated reading cause I knew I would love it. And I did. I finished the audiobook in one day. I related to both of the protagonists quite a lot, but especially Dante... At times it hurt, cause we are just so similar. At times I found myself pausing to collect my thoughts, after the story clicked a little too perfectly with something that has happened to me, and it always felt profound. It was nice to read about healthy families for once. 

And I was so happy when they ended up together. I was worried that they wouldnt

 
This is a book I will continue to think about, and I will be reading the sequel asap.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Transphobia, Car accident, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cursing, Medical content, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Abandonment

Minor: Sexual content

moreadsnrambles's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Medical content, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

alicia_g's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional lighthearted slow-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

4.25

A good book, but it was a bit slow for me at times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Homophobia, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Grief, Drug use, Car accident, Violence, War, Sexual content, Racism, Physical abuse, and Murder

danajoy's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Aristotle Mendoza is 15 and has no idea who he is. 

This book feels so intimate. You're in Ari's head. He's complicated and sensitive.

I love the adult cast in this too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Medical content, Violence, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, and Cursing

Minor: Cancer

and_the_ocean_burned's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Violence, and Car accident

thesecretsapphic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective 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? Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, Medical content, Xenophobia, Violence, Alcohol, Car accident, Cursing, Drug use, Grief, War, Transphobia, Physical abuse, Murder, Outing, Mental illness, Homophobia, and Hate crime

lost_windsock's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

This book was absolutely beautiful. It destroyed me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Car accident, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Death, Violence, Drug use, Grief, Hate crime, and Homophobia