A review by lexarobinson
Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

Although this book begins pretty much immediately after Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe ends, the ten-year gap in their publication has allowed even more maturity to seep into Sáenz's writing, and subsequently the characters themselves (particularly Ari). Its predecessor is excellent, but this sequel blows it right out of the water in my opinion: Sáenz builds a beautiful connection of characters, discusses the AIDS pandemic in such a respectful and considerate tone without sugarcoating it in any manner, and the relationship between Ari and Dante simply flourishes. Lilly and Jaime Mendoza and Sam and Soledad Quintana, however, still steal the show: they are maybe my favourite two sets of fictional parents ever. These two books are a simple delight.
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