Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a young adult novel by Benjamin Alire Sáenz It was first published in 2012 The novel tells the story of two Mexican American teenagers Aristotle Ari Mendoza and Dante Quintana who meet during the summer of 1987 Ari is an angry and lonely teenager who has been expelled from school Dante is a kind and outgoing teenager who is new to town The two boys quickly become friends and learn about each other s secrets As their friendship grows they also begin to explore their identities and their place in the world < p>

The novel has been praised for its sensitive portrayal of friendship and first love as well as its exploration of themes such as family identity and sexuality It has won numerous awards including the Printz Award and the Lambda Literary Award < p>

If you are looking for a heartwarming and thought provoking novel then I recommend Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe It is a story about love friendship and finding your place in the world Here are some things that readers have said about the book:< p>

• A beautiful and moving story about friendship love and self discovery Goodreads reviewer< li>
• A must read for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider Booklist< li>
• A powerful and unforgettable novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it Kirkus Reviews< li> < ul>