Saenz, Benjamin Alire. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Bradbury Press, New York, 1970. 312 pages. Tr. $16.99 ISBN 9780803736702
In 1987 in Texas, Aristotle or Ari, as he likes to be called, is a lonely 15 years old until he meets Dante at the pool one summer. Dante does not have a lot of friends either and the two immediately bond and become best friends, a friendship that is further strengthened when Ari saves Dante from being hit by a car. But then Dante and his family move away for a year when Dante’s father takes a position guest lecturing at a university in Chicago. It is while in Chicago that Dante realizes he is gay and comes out to Ari and tells Ari he is in love with him. Ari says Dante is still his best friend but that he is not in love with Dante. When Dante returns to Texas the two resume their friendship despite Dante’s sexuality. Ari is exploring his own sexuality dating girl while Dante dates other boys discreetly, that is until a group of boys see Dante kissing another boy and beat him up. Ari is furious that anyone would do this to his best friend and learn a lot about and with the help of his parents Ari is able to come to terms with the various emotions he is feeling about Dante, Dante’s attackers, and himself.
