Book Blurb {Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe}

With our graduate program we are to read certain books.
With our current state (social distancing), I was able to get started on that list of books a bit earlier than anticipated.

Being my first Book Blurp, I am not for sure the format I wish to follow.  However, there might be spoilers, so continue at your own risk. I am more or less organizing my thoughts in order to reflect on them later on in the next few semesters.  Thanks for your understanding. 

Book Blurb: 

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

By Benjamin Alire Saenz

You find out later on in the book that it's taking place 1986-1990.  Ari Mendoza meets Dante at the pool in El Paso Texas. They instantly became friends when Dante offered to teach Ari to swim.  Ari's dad was a Vietnam war veteran and doesn't speak/communicate well.  Ari's mom is a high school teacher. Dante's dad is a professor while his mom is a psychologist.  Dante is an only child while Ari has older twin sisters and an older brother who is in prison. His family does not talk about his brother, and it's a theme in the book to not just figure out Ari and Dante's story and identity but to better understand Ari's dad and brother's stories.

Both boys are Mexican and sometimes they share similar thoughts about their culture, how their parents actually parent, and their over all appearance.

A quick run down of events: Ari and Dante become friends. Ari saves Dante's life in a crazy car accident. Dante's family moves to Chicago for a brief work program. Both boys are trying to figure out love and what that looks like. Ari ends up liking a girl who is dating a gang member, and ends up dropping out of school to get have a shot gun wedding (remember, this is several decades ago).  Ari's Aunt dies (who he stated with when his mom had nervous breakdowns from older brother's jail time). She was a lesbian. When they return from Arizona/funeral, Ari finds out that Dante was beat up in alley from kissing a boy. Ari goes on a rampage. They discover the secret of the universe is their love for each other.

There are parties, with pot and beer throughout the book as well. Adult language is scattered throughout. For these two reasons this is a young-adult book and should be placed in high school libraries or older.

The book can be related to, despite the lack of cell phones/technology. Overall I can see kids reading this and finding a piece of themselves somewhere in the stories of Dante and Ari.

I can also see some parents not being happy about the book's sexual content. Although not graphic in nature, depending on your patrons, might not be a book to actively display.

I enjoyed reading the book and will have to remember to recommend it to students who might be experiencing similar situations.

PS - it's a major award winning book.... 

******

After I posted this blog I realized I had a specific form to fill out, so I'm just going to post that here too! It is a checklist so I am going to use it as such.

Title: Aristole and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Author/Illutrator: Benjamin Alire Saenz

Does the story:

Relate to children’s interests? ✅
Provide various conflicts for readers to explore? ✅
Provide age-appropriate content? ✅ for young adults
Encourage discussions/conversations? ✅
Distort history?
Comments/Insights: This is a great book for young adults, and emerging teens. I personally enjoyed it. See above.

Do the characters:

Represent a variety of people within cultural groups, age ranges and sizes and disabilities? ✅
Are the “good” characters a reflection of a variety of backgrounds? ✅
Include females as well as males in leadership and/or non-traditional roles?
Represent diverse people at the same “level” of the white characters?
Are all characters depicted realistically and genuinely? ✅
Tend to be depicted as stereotypical?
Comments/Insights: It is very Hispanic focused around the two main characters.

Does the theme:

Offer readers a variety of things to think about, question, and consider? ✅
Explore, instead of preach, values? ✅
Include lessons from which readers can learn? ✅
Tell the story of a diverse population in a condescending manner, whether contemporary or in the past? ✅
Comments/Insights: Explore vs preach ideas - very much! You go through the book following the characters' personal struggles, very exploration in nature. 

Does the story’s setting:

Reflect a variety of places and spaces? ✅ the city and their small town
Represent urban, suburban, and rural settings realistically?✅
Represent cultural settings realistically? ✅
Comments/Insights:

Do the story illustrations (if there are any): 
Include representation of diverse populations?
Contain diversity represented within cultural groups?
Include characters depicted realistically and genuinely?
Avoid reinforcing societal stereotypes?
Comments/Insights: not present

Book as a Whole 

Would you be embarrassed to read the book to children of a different culture, and their parents?
What is the author’s background for writing the book? I am not for sure will have to potentially investigate more!
What is the context of the book?

Comments/Insights:

Personal Insights
Your personal notes/insights about the book not covered in the previous sections: See blog!