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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Written by: Benjamin Alire Saenz
Narrated by: Lin-Manuel Miranda
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About this listen

A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship - the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

©2013 Benjamin Alire Saenz (P)2013 Simon & Schuster Audio Coming of Age Difficult Situations Family Family & Relationships Friendship LGBTQIA2S+ Creators Literature & Fiction Fiction Romance LGBTQIA+

What the critics say

“Benjamin Alire Saenz is a writer with a sidewinder punch. Spare sentences connect resonant moments, and then he knocks you down with emotional truth. The story of Ari and Dante’s friendship widens and twists like a river, revealing truths about how hard love is, how family supports us, and how painfully deep you have to go to uncover an authentic self." (Judy Blundell, National Book Award-winning author of What I Saw and How I Lied)
"This book took my breath away. What gorgeous writing, and what a story! I loved both these boys. And their parents! Don't we all wish we had parents like theirs? The ending - and the way it unfolded - was so satisfying. I could go on and on...suffice it to say I will be highly recommending it to one and all. I'm sure I'll reread it myself at some point. I hated having it end." (James Howe, author of Addie on the Inside)
"I’m absolutely blown away. This is Saenz's best work by far.... It’s a beautiful story, so beautifully told and so psychologically acute! Both Ari and Dante are simply great characters who will live on in my memory. Everything about the book is absolutely pitch perfect.... It’s already my favorite book of the year!" (Michael Cart, Booklist)
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The reading performance and story are both amazing! I listen to it at least once a year.

Beautiful Story

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loved it! characters are mesmerizing! I fell in love with them! I laughed I cried!

coming of age greatness!

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Excellently narrated, great coming off age story. Will definitely read with my high school students.

Wonderful Book

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Having read the book once (or twice) before, I knew what I was getting into before purchasing the audiobook. It's a great story with character that you genuinely feel for, and the insight from Ari makes it easy to relate to his emotions.
Lin Manuel Miranda does a fantastic job distinguishing the voices of the characters and building a personality for each one through his voice. Because the book is written from the perspective of one of the characters, it really lends itself to being performed this way, and it shines!
Overall fantastic, and I can't wait to see what else this author writes!

Great book, great reader!

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While my book discography isn't high, what I can say is that I've never connected to a main character more than I have with this book.

a book I've never connected with more

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I admit I read this once before in print, but it was only when I went back on audio to truly understand the story. It’s rare to have a time this soft, lush and loving when presenting two male leads.

There’s something magical and loving in the way the author writes his books that’s present in his other newer work. Perhaps more fiction that reality but nonetheless a great read and strong characters.

A magical lush hot summer read

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Such a great listen. Raising two boys I loved this look into the mind of these two boys.

loved it - not what I would normally listen to!

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This book was made for me and I cried and it was FUCKING AMAZING. Amazing.

Me: a closeted bisexual pseudo only child

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This book was the most touching thing I have ever read (listened to). Love is love. Why feel ashamed to love.

Loved it.

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I have loved this book for years. I found it by chance a while ago. I'd read it but with my free time becoming scarce I decided to check out the audiobook. When I saw who narrated it I knew I had to listen to it. BEST DECISION!!!! Lin did SUCH AN AMAZING FANTASTIC job!! he made it so easy to fall back in love with these boys and their families and their stories all over again!! and hearing the Spanish stuff pronounced properly added a nice level to it I never could!!

AMAZING

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