Banned Book Club: December meeting
We will be discussing the book Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
From https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Aristotle-and-Dante-Discover-the-Secrets-of-the-Universe/Benjamin-Alire-Saenz/Aristotle-and-Dante/9781665955751?brid=Q9grkwUlRKogsMBPxbHdLg :
Now a major motion picture starring Max Pelayo, Reese Gonzales, and Eva Longoria!
A Time Best YA Book of All Time (2021)
Dive into the award-winning, internationally renowned book that is a “tender, honest exploration of identity” (Publishers Weekly) and distills lyrical truths about family and friendship—featuring images from the film!
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.
Awards:
From https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Aristotle-and-Dante-Discover-the-Secrets-of-the-Universe/Benjamin-Alire-Saenz/Aristotle-and-Dante/9781665955751?brid=Q9grkwUlRKogsMBPxbHdLg :
Now a major motion picture starring Max Pelayo, Reese Gonzales, and Eva Longoria!
A Time Best YA Book of All Time (2021)
Dive into the award-winning, internationally renowned book that is a “tender, honest exploration of identity” (Publishers Weekly) and distills lyrical truths about family and friendship—featuring images from the film!
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.
Awards:
- ALA Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book
- School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
- ALA Notable Children's Books
- LAMBDA Literary Award
- Lincoln Award: Illinois Teen Readers' Choice Master List
- Bank Street Best Books of the Year
- Oregon Battle of the Books List
- Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Master List
- Texas Tayshas High School Reading List
- Garden State Teen Book Award Nominee (NJ)
- Nutmeg Book Award Nominee (CT)
- Florida Teens Read Master List
- Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award
- Volunteer State Book Award Nominee (TN)
- Virginia Readers' Choice Award List
- Americas Award Commended Title
- Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Nominee (MD)
- Pura Belpre Award
- The Flume: New Hampshire Teen Reader's Choice Award Nominee
- Kirkus Best Young Adult Book
- ALA/YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults - Top Ten
- Arkansas Teen Book Award Reading List
- ALA Stonewall Award Winner
- CA Westchester Fiction Award Winner
- MSTA Reading Circle List
- Spirit of Texas Reading Program
- CA Teachers Assoc. Read Across America Reading List
Why is it banned?
From: https://www.reuters.com/article/business/media-telecom/feature-lgbtq-authors-hit-back-as-us-school-book-bans-pick-up-idUSL8N38E59C/#:~:text=Author%20Benjamin%20Alire%20Saenz%20has,live%20in%20a%20functioning%20democracy.%22
Author Benjamin Alire Saenz has seen his book "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" banned by numerous school libraries and schools across the United States due to its depictions of homosexuality and references to drugs and sex.
Starts on
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 6:30 PM EST
