Over the next year, Dante sends Ari several letters detailing his life in Chicago and struggling with his sexuality. The two boys promise each other that they will still be friends when Dante returns in the summer. However, Ari says that he should not tell him those things, even if they are true. Both boys' mothers talk more frequently and share ideas about their sons.īefore Dante leaves for Chicago, he tells Ari that the two things he loves most in the world are swimming and Ari. Following the accident, the Quintanas and the Mendozas grow closer. While Dante leaves almost unscathed, Ari is hurt very badly. Ari dives into the street and pushes Dante out of its path, saving his life. While Dante goes into the road to check on the bird, a car speeds around the corner. That same day, the two boys see a bird lying injured in the road. Dante teaches Ari about literature and poetry, while Ari is fascinated by Dante's swimming ability and sincerity.ĭante tells Ari that he and his family are moving to Chicago for the next school term because his father was offered a temporary professorship at the University of Chicago. The boys bond over their classical names and eventually become inseparable. In the summer of 1987, 15-year-old Aristotle Mendoza meets a boy named Dante Quintana at the local pool. A film adaptation, written and directed by Aitch Alberto, premiered on September 9, 2022. Since its publication, the novel has received widespread critical acclaim and numerous accolades.Ī sequel, titled Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World, was published on October 12, 2021. Set in El Paso, Texas in 1987, the novel follows two Mexican-American teenagers, Aristotle 'Ari' Mendoza and Dante Quintana, their friendship, and their struggles with racial and ethnic identity, sexuality, and family relationships. Printz Award, 2013Īristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a coming-of-age young adult novel by American author Benjamin Alire Sáenz which was first published February 21, 2012.

Aristotle and dante novel