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

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

These books are always going to mean so much to me. I read the first book not long after realizing I was queer. I re-read it again a few months ago in anticipation of reading the sequel and it felt like a checkpoint for the growth that I’ve had since I first discovered my identity and for all of the growth I have yet to come. Ari grows so much over the course of the first book that you might think he was done. The sequel serves as a reminder that we are always growing and changing, and it’s never too late to let new people into your life.

Ari’s visit to his brother and his visit to Camila’s grave wrapped up my main qualm from the first book, which was not fully recognizing Bernardo’s victim as a transgender woman. My one major qualm with THIS book is that I don’t think any event that happens 2/3 of the way into the book should be teased in the book jacket. I wanted to be more surprised and hurt by Jaime’s death, but I kind of expected it when the back of the book referenced Ari’s “shocking loss.”

Regardless of any minor issues I had with this book, I adore these characters. Like Ari and his words, I feel like these characters live inside me.