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Reviews tagging 'Bullying'
Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
59 reviews
jasmineslibraryy's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
almost DNF'd, really glad i didn't
this sequel was kinda unnecessary in my opinion but it was beautiful. ari has one of the most beautiful character arcs i've ever read. the first one is still miles better but i still thoroughly enjoyed this!
this sequel was kinda unnecessary in my opinion but it was beautiful. ari has one of the most beautiful character arcs i've ever read. the first one is still miles better but i still thoroughly enjoyed this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Religious bigotry, Racism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Medical content, Medical trauma, Hate crime, Death, Deadnaming, Cursing, Child death, Blood, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Bullying, and Alcohol
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Terminal illness, Child abuse, War, and Pregnancy
Minor: Pedophilia and Cancer
ashley_mrose530's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.25
A really great continuation of Aristotle and Dante's story. Now they aren't falling in love, but are learning how to navigate being in a relationship while also growing as people and coming out to those they are closest to.
I loved going through this journey with Ari. He's so smart and has such a big heart that he had to learn how to let people into throughout this book. And then the grief was so poignant and beautiful. It was handled so well throughout the second half of the novel. I felt myself tearing up after almost every scene as Ari weathered his grief with his happiness.
I also loved the addition of the aids epidemic and how big of a part of queer history that is. I think the author did well in showing the solidarity of the queer community during the epidemic and balancing how it was starting to affect Ari's life or the life of those around him.
The writing style of the author, though lyrical and beautiful, does take a big to get used to. It's kind of a stream of consciousness style that you don't see very often in contemporary novels. But once I did get used to it, I loved it and how it fit Ari's character with how he's always in his head, silently watching and listening.
I loved going through this journey with Ari. He's so smart and has such a big heart that he had to learn how to let people into throughout this book. And then the grief was so poignant and beautiful. It was handled so well throughout the second half of the novel. I felt myself tearing up after almost every scene as Ari weathered his grief with his happiness.
I also loved the addition of the aids epidemic and how big of a part of queer history that is. I think the author did well in showing the solidarity of the queer community during the epidemic and balancing how it was starting to affect Ari's life or the life of those around him.
The writing style of the author, though lyrical and beautiful, does take a big to get used to. It's kind of a stream of consciousness style that you don't see very often in contemporary novels. But once I did get used to it, I loved it and how it fit Ari's character with how he's always in his head, silently watching and listening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Death of parent, and Bullying
marinasjd's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Racism, Bullying, Cursing, Grief, Pregnancy, Hate crime, and Homophobia
blackberryjambaby's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Xenophobia, Transphobia, Hate crime, Violence, Homophobia, Bullying, and Racism
bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It’s rare that a sequel can measure up to the original, but this one does. The continuation of Ari and Dante’s story flows so beautifully from where the first book ended. You really feel for these characters as they navigate the transition between child and adult. I especially liked how they showcased the difficulty of confronting injustice and how joy and love and acceptance have to be fought for. a fantastic story that needed to be told and was told so well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying and Homophobia
Minor: Racism, Alcohol, Cursing, Murder, Car accident, Child death, Sexual content, and Violence
navayiota's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
5.0
This was a great sequel! In some ways, mainly the romance, it was not as great as the first. But it made up for it with everything else. I agree with other reviewers about it being incredibly cheesy, it was at times annoying, but I like how it seems not to take itself too seriously. It wasn't crafted to accurately portray being gay in the 80s, it's a story. It accomplished what it set out to do. And I really appreciate that. However I also feel like it was trying a bit too hard to be quotable. That might be my only real complaint.
I love how they further explored Ari and Dante's relationships with their families, the plotlines about Ari's brother and his father's death tugged at my heart. As someone who had to go through the circus of getting over their first serious relationship and then dealing with a family death, it hit hard. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how many things Greek culture shared with Mexican culture, especially about funerals/deaths. I really connected with that part of the book. Having gone through it, it felt incredibly validating to read about it. I relate a lot to Dante, and I kinda wish Ari hadn't followed him to Paris. I wish they just stayed friends. I wish there wasn't such a focus in our society on the couple ending up together in the end. I don't like how sugary sweet the ending felt, I think a bittersweet one would have been better, though heartbreaking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Alcohol, Homophobia, Death, Death of parent, Hate crime, Child death, Bullying, Racism, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Pregnancy
pulcotinette's review
emotional
funny
reflective
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? No
4.0
As much as I adored the first book, I had a hard time getting into this one. I felt that the tone was off, too mechanical, an adult trying to speak like a child. And in between, I found some poetic moments so beautiful that I thought "This I'll remember for a long time" (the camping, the painting).
However uneven in style, I loved the fact that we get to know about Ari and Dante's everyday life in school. It brings some new characters (or brings them to the front: Gina, Susie) and a touch of fresh air.
I was THOROUGHLY not prepared for this book to be this sad. I wanted to pick a lighthearted and cozy book because I was burnt out, and I had to put it down for three weeks when I got to the point where Ari's father dies. I spoiled myself by turning the page, and it was the end of my reading session, so I didn't want to believe it, and sat on it for a bit. When I went back to it, I read 5 pages and put it down immediately because I felt betrayed by the story. It doesn't make any sense in the story to kill him/have him die, and I hate that this series, which made me want to mend my relationship with my parents, features the loss of a parent. Not happening, babe.
Terrible name-picking from the Quintana as always, but we kind of love them for it. I feel like the ending was pointless, but I am often disappointed by endings these days, so don't mind me. It's just unnecessary drama, really.
However uneven in style, I loved the fact that we get to know about Ari and Dante's everyday life in school. It brings some new characters (or brings them to the front: Gina, Susie) and a touch of fresh air.
I was THOROUGHLY not prepared for this book to be this sad.
Terrible name-picking from the Quintana as always, but we kind of love them for it. I feel like the ending was pointless, but I am often disappointed by endings these days, so don't mind me. It's just unnecessary drama, really.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, and Homophobia
Moderate: Bullying and Hate crime
Minor: Sexual content
mororke's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Bullying, and Death of parent
Minor: Racism, Classism, Grief, Homophobia, and Pregnancy
journey2's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? No
5.0
Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World picks up immediately where the first book left off. On the same magical night. Our heroes are happy and in love and have found their voices in the world but knowing what comes next is the hard part.
These books are beautiful, the characters are intellectual, the relationships with parents and family are based on love and honesty and seeing each other as people and they are honestly so refreshing.
The questions they ask, the things they struggle wih are real and tangible. Falling in love with another boy at the height of the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and having to hide yourself for fear of persecution, I thought about these things a lot as I read them. (Arguably I read the first book in one sitting cover to cover!)
These are gorgeous books and if you haven't read them yet I suggest you do!
These books are beautiful, the characters are intellectual, the relationships with parents and family are based on love and honesty and seeing each other as people and they are honestly so refreshing.
The questions they ask, the things they struggle wih are real and tangible. Falling in love with another boy at the height of the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and having to hide yourself for fear of persecution, I thought about these things a lot as I read them. (Arguably I read the first book in one sitting cover to cover!)
These are gorgeous books and if you haven't read them yet I suggest you do!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Animal death, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Bullying, Grief, Alcohol, and Transphobia
Tw: homophobia, transphobia (use of an out dated t word that would have still been in use in the 80s, although this does seem to be rectified by the second book and handled with more care), violence, car accident, death, incarceration, AIDS.xlaurareads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
what an incredibly beautiful, heartwarming, thoughtful sequel to the first book. it had me laughing, it had me crying, it had everything i needed of a book. an amazingly crafted story about love and everything that comes with it. the only issue i had and the reason why this isn't a 5-star read is that, sometimes, it felt a bit too dragged and long-winded. but i loved it nonetheless and would recommend it to anyone without hesitation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Outing, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Grief, and Homophobia
Moderate: Hate crime, Transphobia, Alcohol, and Racism