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kit-reviews-gay-lit · 7 years ago

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Kit Reviews:

It’s difficult to say anything about this book, that hasn’t already been said. So, what I offer instead is my love for this story in my own words:

I struggle to remember exactly when I read it. If I had to guess, I’d say back in 2016. I got a physical copy, and mum bought the audiobook, narrated by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

I’m not as much of a reader as a writer should be; I have a love/hate relationship with books in the sense that I’m extremely picky about what I read. A 200k word fanfic is no problem, but I think that’s because I know the characters. Characters to me are the most important factor into whether I like a book (or any media for that matter) or not.

Mum bought the audiobook, in the hopes of encouraging me to read along. When I began reading without the help of Lin, mum listened to it herself, and finished, before I had finished reading.

Long story short: it was worth every word.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin AlireSáenz

Published: February 21, 2012

Read: At some point in 2016

POV: First person

Target age: 16+

Genre: Young Adult, Coming-of-age, Historical fiction

LGBTQ+ characters: The two main leads. Dante is gay. It’s a little harder to pinpoint Aristotle, he’s most likely gay or bi.

Personal rating: 4.5/5

Favourite character: Dante Quintana, in-spite of his aversion to shoes.

AADDTSOTU is a Young Adult coming-of-age novel about two Mexican-American boys who meet one summer in their hometown of El Paso, Texas in 1987. The story is told entirely from Aristotle’s (AKA Ari) perspective and follows his emotional and physical growth while he learns to understand the people around him and, most importantly, himself.

As well as a romance slowly unfolding between the two titular characters, the story delves into the boys’ relationship with their Mexican-America heritage and understanding of their families. It especially focuses on Ari dealing with having his brother in prison and his father’s internal struggle with his time as a solider in Vietnam.

It comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me, however, to hear that it was the LGBTQ+ themes of this book that first drew me to it.

That being said: the importance of race and family in the story was not lost on me.

I am neither Mexican nor American. I’m white and I have lived in the same South-Eastern English town my entire life and have barely travelled from it; save for a few school trips to other parts of the UK, time in Scotland with my many, many maternal relatives, and holidays to the French city of Rouen when I was a kid.

A novel about, not one but two Latino boys falling in love in the 80’s South is as revolutionary as it is needed. When people think of diversity, this is what they mean; a fresh change from the usual popular YA novels. That’s not to say those other books can’t be enjoyed, but it is telling when every book someone has on their shelf is about straight white people.

Of course, I’m not the first person to praise this book’s representation, and Lord knows I won’t be the last. I think we can all agree that the best thing to do is listen to the voices of the Latino LGBTQ+ people who have read this and firmly feel their place in the world because of it.

As an LGBTQ+ person (specifically the L), this book was a warm hug after a long trudge through the snow.

I saw my younger self in Ari every time he pushed his sexuality aside.

The way I’ve described this novel to others is that it emotionally beats you within an inch of your life, before patching you up and nursing you back to health by the end of it.

I had to put it down at one point. I’m too empathetic for my own good, and the ache I felt during the portion of the story that Dante spends away in Chicago and exploring his sexuality on his own became a little too much for my poor gay heart to bear.

It’s the kind of story where you shake the book like you have the main character by the shoulders and cry “good God, man! What’ll it take for you realise!”

The road to the glorious ending feels long and bumpy, but it’s one hell of a ride.

The author’s unconditional love for his characters on and off the page only fuels my own dedication.

Ari and Dante are not a duo I’ll forget anytime soon. Something tells me you wouldn’t either.

#aaddtsotu #first person pov #young adult #4.5 rating #16-18 #lgbtq+ main character #kit reviews gay lit

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