‘Dante can swim. Ari can’t. Dante is articulate and self-assured. Ari has a hard time with words and suffers from self-doubt. Dante gets lost in poetry and art. Ari gets list in thoughts of his older brother who is in prison. Dante is fair skinned. Ari’s features are much darker. It seems that a boy like Dante, with his open and unique perspective on life, would be the last person to break down the walls that Ari has built around himself.
But against all odds, when Ari and Dante meet, they develop a special bond that will teach them the most important truths of their lives, and help will define the people they want to be. But there are big hurdles in their way, and only by believing in each other–and the power of their friendship–can Ari and Dante emerge stronger on the other side.’
Can I just start this off by saying that I wish I had listened to my friends when they told me to read this book?
(also, this review will be jumbled because this is just how my brain works)
The world that author portrays.. This is the kind of story that happens everyday. This story is the kind of story that had happened to so many people in the past, and to see it written out. I dont know how to comprehend how I feel. I just want to roll into a ball and cry. Aristotle’s world is raw, emotional, and true. So true.
I personally relate to Ari so much. Its also nice to see part of my cultural heritage portrayed in a book. I can say this with confidence when I say that Ive never read a character like Ari before I read this book. It’s truly amazing how much Ari and I are alike. We’re both fiercely protective our loved ones, and we both have siblings who are way older than us. Our father-kid relationship is so, so similar.
Well, if youve made it this far into reading this lame review, all I can say is that this book is so important. It is so relatable, and I didnt think I would love this book as much as I do. If anyone asks me for recommendations, this will be on that list.
If you haven’t already put this book on your GoodReads TBR list, then you definitely should! Here’s a link to this book on GoodReads.
Thanks for reading! Until next time,
Adele.
Adele Is Reading 