← Back to Reads 365
Latinx Authors & Hispanic Cultures

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

"Two boys, one desert summer, and the secrets of the universe."

El Paso, 1987: angry, guarded Ari meets swimming, laughing, poetry-quoting Dante, and a friendship begins that will take two years, one accident and every ounce of courage to become what it truly is. A modern classic of queer Chicano tenderness.

Worth knowing

Winner of the Stonewall Book Award, a Printz Honor and the Pura Belpré Award; adapted to film in 2022, produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

You might also like

Cover of The Moon Within

Day 11

The Moon Within

Aida Salazar

A first period, a best friend in transition, and a moon ceremony Celi isn't sure she wants.

Cover of Darius the Great Is Not Okay

Day 22

Darius the Great Is Not Okay

Adib Khorram

Darius has never fit in anywhere — until a boy in Yazd teaches him the Farsi word for friend.

Cover of Ophelia After All

Day 23

Ophelia After All

Racquel Marie

Ophelia has had crushes on boys forever. So why can't she stop thinking about Talia?