Benjamin Alire Saenz

A "mesmerizing, poetic exploration of family, friendship, love and loss" from the acclaimed author of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. (New York Times Book Review) Sal used to know his place with his adoptive gay father, their loving Mexican American family, and his best friend, Samantha. But it's senior year, and suddenly Sal is throwing punches, questioning everything, and realizing he no longer knows himself. If Sal's not who he thought he was, who is he? This humor-infused, warmly humane look at universal questions of belonging is a triumph.

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life

Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Sal used to know his place with his adoptive gay father, their loving Mexican American family, and his best friend, Samantha. But it's senior year, and suddenly Sal is throwing punches, questioning everything, and realizing he no longer knows himself. If Sal's not who he thought he was, who is he?

a novel

The inexplicable logic of my life

Kaia Mann

 Life had its seasons, and the season of letting go would always come, but there was something very beautiful in that, in the letting go. Leaves were always graceful as they floated away from the tree.

ke"Did it help, Fito, keeping a journal? "Yeah. It was almost like having a life. I guess I started when I eventh grade. Helped me keep my head on straight. Gave me someone to talk to even if that someone was just me.

One minute there was a fight in a funeral home and ugly words were flying through the air like bullets - and a few days later there was a snowball fight and the sound of Sammy squealing with laugher and Fito kneeling on the ground because he couldn't stand up straight because he was laughing so hard. God, it really was beautiful. Really, really beautiful.

clau☁️

3 stars and a half to be exact! 

I liked this book, mostly the writing. I think it is what makes Alire Sáenz’s books so special.
I am all in for deep matters, such as the ones on this book.
But having read Ari and Dante, and it being one of my favorite books, I can’t give this one a higher rating.
The writing is very similar, which doesn’t bother me. The characters are pretty different, which I liked. The story I thought was special and beautiful. But the overall, I don’t know why, I couldn’t enjoy as much.
Maybe it is my fault for comparing the two books, I shouldn’t do that, I know. But since I bought this one because I loved the other one so much, it is hard for me not to.

I would still recommend this book, I am glad I read it. If you want something deep to make you think about life and death, pick it up! But if you are a big fan of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, don’t expect to love this one as much. Tho if it turns out you do, I am very happy for you!

Julie Rubens

All I can say is wow! This book was amazing, I fell in love with the characters. I loved the focus on family and friends who feel like family and I wish I had a dad like Sally does.

menna

I cried and cried and then cried some more

Jude Moon

Nunca voy a tener suficientes palabras para describir lo que este autor transmite al mundo. It's just magic. 10/10

A warmly humane look at universal questions of belonging, infused with humour, from the bestselling author of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Sal used to know his place with his adoptive gay father, their loving Mexican American family, and his best friend, Samantha. But it's senior year, and suddenly Sal is throwing punches, questioning everything, and realizing he no longer knows himself. If Sal's not who he thought he was, who is he? 'Friendships, family, grief, joy, rage, faith, doubt, poetry, and love - this complex and sensitive book has room for every aspect of growing up!' Margarita Engle, author of The Surrender Tree '... another stellar, gentle look into the emotional lives of teens on the cusp of adulthood' Kirkus Reviews Praise for Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe: '... a smart, intelligent, engaging coming-of-age story and a deep, thoughtful exploration of identity and sexuality' The Book Smugglers 'Meticulous pacing and finely nuanced characters underpin the author's gift for affecting prose that illuminates the struggles within relationships' Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Olga Hicks 

beautiful 

Love it made me cry so much but in a good way I was adopted from Russia so this story really connects with me beautifully written

Laura Pons

La narrativa de este hombre es realmente preciosa, sabe cómo llegar a las personas y cómo hacerlas sentir. El libro es muy bonito y la historia a pesar de dura también es enternecedora.

jess

This book is an absolutely heartrending exploration of identity, family, and friendship, and I am so incredibly glad I read it. I really don't believe I have the words to properly describe how beautiful this book was, so I'll just leave it short. Saenz's writing is simple yet so, so full of feeling, and everything about Sal's story - his friends, Sam and Fito; his family, Mima and Vincente and Marcos; the mystery surrounding his adoption and mother.... I haven't felt so much for a group of characters for a long time.

As someone trying to write my college admissions essay, this spoke to me.

rida

This was a sweet book, but too long. i had to read little by little bc i got tired of it so easily, and by the last 100 pages were just TOO long.

Morgan Moeller 

I don't even know what to say, this was such a great book! I really enjoy Benjamin Alire Sáenz books! Can't wait to read another book by him.

Amélie Vaugarny

Even the Acknowledgements are beautiful. Oh, man, did I tear up. Sweet. Muy bueno.

Meriem💫

This is a book that filled me with unspeakable amounts happiness, even in its saddest parts. Ben, you never disappoint. This was just as beautiful as Aristotle and Dante. Absolutely beautiful. ❤

chloe mcpherson

I am very disappointed I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would have. I felt like the overall plot was lacking, and there were a few sexism and stereotyping in this book for instance a line were it says 'For a gay guy, my dad was pretty straight' and 'One thing about Sam was that she didn't throw like a girl'
Lines like that had me rolling my eyes and honestly had to push through to finish this book.

Astha Prakash

Sigh. I wish I liked this book more. While it was beautifully written and had some fun dialogues, the story fell flat for me. Salvador, Mima and Vicente were well-written characters, but everyone else felt half-cooked and annoying. Including Sam. Especially Sam. It was tough to keep going at some point in the story and while I don't regret reading it, I wish it was less forgettable. Maybe I'll like Sáenz's other book (Ari and Dante) more.

Britt Jansen 

Alexis 

Okay so this might be an unpopular opinion but I really liked this story more than the authors other YA book. I mean I Love both of them but this one just got to me a little more. I really connected with the main character. He was just mad what's going on with his family and feels as if it's unfair and is unsure of how to handle it. I loved the fact that romance wasn't the main focus of this story. Friends and family is where the story lies and I very much enjoyed it. I also listened to a portion of this on audiobook and it was also well done.

Akanksha Chattopadhyay

A warmly humane look at universal questions of belonging, infused with humour, from the bestselling author of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Sal used to know his place with his adoptive gay father, their loving Mexican American family, and his best friend, Samantha. But it’s senior year, and suddenly Sal is throwing punches, questioning everything, and realizing he no longer knows himself. If Sal’s not who he thought he was, who is he? 'Friendships, family, grief, joy, rage, faith, doubt, poetry, and love – this complex and sensitive book has room for every aspect of growing up!' Margarita Engle, author of The Surrender Tree ‘… another stellar, gentle look into the emotional lives of teens on the cusp of adulthood’ Kirkus Reviews Praise for Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe: ‘… a smart, intelligent, engaging coming-of-age story and a deep, thoughtful exploration of identity and sexuality’ The Book Smugglers ‘Meticulous pacing and finely nuanced characters underpin the author's gift for affecting prose that illuminates the struggles within relationships’ Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Dina

4.5 stars
This one got to me way more than Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.
I'll expand on this sometime later.

Makayla Reed

This book is filled with tragedy. Although I did not cry. I'm not sure how else to put it. This book is filled with tragedy but it also is filled with hope and a future.

Salvador, Sam and Fito are flawed characters that you can't help but fall in love with. They are all going through different struggles while also dealing with their worlds falling apart. Somehow they are able to keep their heads above water with the help of each other and their close-knit friendship. I absolutely loved Salvador and Sam's connection and the way they interacted with each other.

Overall, I have to say that this book was fantastic and although it might have been a little too long at some points, I became so wrapped up in the lives of the Silva family and all of the people that walked into the families life and became part of it.

Ava Shaffer

Like Sáenz’s other book, I completely fell in love with its story and its characters. Full of poetic and memorable quotes, lifelong lessons, and tons of emotions, this book isn’t one I am going to forget.

Gaby Flores

Erin 

I read this in one whole day, because I let it sit in Libby for three whole weeks before I realized it had to be returned to the library. I didn’t want to give it up, so burned right through it. I had only ever read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, so was quite excited to get into this book by the same author. I didn’t love it quite as much, but it has so much value. I think there’s something truly special to learn about identity and where it comes from. Sal isn’t Mexican American, but his father is, and so the identity he has was developed through the traditions, cultures, and values that his father grew up with to pass onto his son. I thought it was a really interesting read because I have never thought about having an identity that isn’t technically your own heritage. I loved Sal’s best friend, and the journey she goes on throughout the book regarding her own family, and what that concept means to her. The author is really good at making you connect to the characters and their struggles even though you may think you don’t have much in common.

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life

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