"To all the boys who've had to learn to play by different rules."

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

I read this book earlier this year, after it had come out as an award winner at the beginning of the year (Lambda Literary Award, Stonewall for LGBT fiction, Pura Belpré for Latino author, and Printz honor book for YA fiction).  I love, love, loved it!  By the end of the book, I had tears streaming down my face, and I just wanted to immediately turn back to page one and start reading all over again.  (I didn't, because I thought I'd enjoy the book much more if I saved a reread for a later time).

It's a coming-of-age story about two Mexican-American boys growing up during the 1980's.  Ari is our hot-tempered, introverted narrator that has an emotionally distant father, an incarcerated brother, a loving but secret-keeping mother, and a difficulty with understanding his own emotions.  He becomes friends with Dante, an outspoken, too-clever-for-his-own-good boy that loves poetry, art, and doing things his own way.  

Just look at the cover and you can tell that the story is going to be beautiful.  Saenz doesn't write overly complex or convoluted sentences, but his simple dialogue is very meaningful, lyrical.  The relationship that builds between the two boys is beautiful.  They have wonderful, supportive families, even if they're not what you'd think of as typical families.  You see how two very different people can find so much in common to love and appreciate in a world that is confusing and frustrating.  You get to see these two characters go through so much and change throughout their difficulties that I found myself really missing them for several days after I had finished the book.

But don't just take my word for it - go read the book for yourself.  I don't read a lot of realistic fiction, but this is definitely one of my top books of the year.  I'll leave you with a quote:  

"The problem with my life is that it was someone else's idea."