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

challenging emotional inspiring reflective 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

It's very rare to pick up a book you don't expect to love, only for it to impact you in a way you never expected. I read the first book, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, years ago, when I was still in high school. I didn't know much about the world, or about the book, only that it was a coming-of-age story about a young, gay boy. I didn't fall in love with it, and I think if I re-read it now that I'm older and have more of an understanding of Ari, and of myself, I would love the first book as much as I loved this book.
Each of the five sections was perfectly paced, and Ari's growth and formation of self-love was immensely gratifying to watch unfold. The birth of Dante's brother was a gift, and the loss of Ari's father was gut-wrenching. With discussion of the AIDS epidemic, I was reluctantly preparing myself for one of the boys to die - with Ari's journal entries to Dante, and their newly established sexual relationship, I don't think it was an unfair prediction to be wary of - or, with how old Legs was getting, I was afraid there would be the loss of a pet. But the loss of Ari's father was so sudden, and so well executed, it had me staring at the pages, feeling the grief Ari felt. Ari and Dante's young and explosive love was so well handled, as was the love between the friends Ari finally, finally, allowed himself to open up to. With every character Ari mapped into he and Dante's world - Danny, Camile, Julio, Gerald - Ari mapped himself onto my heart. I love this book more than I can express, and Sáenz's words have spoken to me in a way I was not expecting to be spoken to.
I applaud Sáenz and cannot wait to see how Ari's philosophy of developmental cartography will continue to weave its way into this world. Well done. Truly well done.
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