Growing Up Never Stops

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Published: February 21, 2012

Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR

Received: Finally got a copy from my wonderful friend Melissa at Christmas!

"The summer sun was not meant for boys like me. Boys like me belonged to the rain."

Angel Aristotle Mendoza hates a lot of things. He hates his name. He hates that his father doesn't talk to him 

and that his mother is strict. He hates that his siblings are much, much older than him. He hates being fifteen. 

He hates not being able to swim. But Ari finds out that he doesn't hate Dante. 

"I got to thinking that poems were like people. Some people you got right off the bat. 

Some people you just didn't get--and never would get."

Ari has always felt misunderstood. He doesn't like to talk about his feelings either. But somehow, Dante gets him.

Dante talks enough for both of them, and finally Ari finds a friend. Ari has a couple other friends at school. And 

this year, he's going to kiss a girl.

"I bet you could sometimes find all the mysteries of the universe in someone's hand."

Ari's going to learn how to drive. He's going to figure out what happened to his brother. Ari's got a lot of plans.

"Another secret of the universe: Sometimes pain was like a storm that came out of nowhere.

The clearest summer morning could end in a downpour. Could end in lightning and thunder."

I loved Aristotle and Dante. Of course, I did. It's one of those books that got rave reviews when it came out. And 

when people hear I haven't read it, they always say "oh you'll love it!!" And I did. How could anyone not love it? It's

about finding out who your true friends are, and what love means, and how far is too far. It's about how people 

gravitate towards one another without any intention of doing so. It's just an incredibly beautiful book.

I'm just as much a fan of this book at 24 as I would have been if I'd read it at 12 or 13 or 15 or 19. I think it's one

of those books that just works. No matter what age you are. It just clicks. Or, I don't know, maybe it doesn't.

Recommended for: fans of first love, fans of first friendships, fans of beautiful writings, romantics