Quality Criteria and Texts

When selecting literature to include in a course, teachers need guidelines to select quality works for their students. It is especially crucial to have evaluative tools and criteria to use as justification when selecting potentially controversial texts. Since Artistotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, by Benjamin Alire Saenz, contains themes that parents and administrators may question, such as homosexuality, sex, and drug and alcohol use, we need to be prepared to justify our choice of text. Logan, Lasswell, Hood, and Watson present compelling information and justifications for including young adult queer literature in the classroom in “Criteria for the Selection of Young Adult Queer Literature.” The authors present nine criteria for selecting young adult literature to include in the classroom. While the text reflects many of the criteria that the authors discuss, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe beautifully demonstrates the following qualities: window and mirrors and self-actualization.

The characters in the text are very diverse and allow readers to view the text through windows and mirrors. Logan, et al, explains that a window in a text allows readers to gain “new insights and perspectives” (Logan, Lasswell and Hood 33) through characters unlike themselves. Mirrors, on the other hand, create opportunities for readers to read about similar experiences—such as “cultural traditions, developmental stages, and gender expressions” (Logan, Lasswell and Hood 33)—through characters that are similar to themselves. Aristotle and Dante are characters that can be both windows and mirrors to readers at various points in the text. Aristotle is the stoic, questioning character that is outwardly quiet. His inner dialogue shows a young man that is struggling to define who he is. At the pool, Aristotle says “So I kept to myself and sort of floated along. Not that I was having fun” (Saenz 25). Many teens experience solitary moments where they are neither happy nor unhappy. This is Aristotle’s experience. Dante also provides a window-mirror effect. In a letter to Aristotle while Dante was in Chicago, Dante says “You have to be who you are. And I have to be who I am. That’s the way it is. And anyway, I usually did most of the talking” (Saenz 192). Here, Dante functions more as a window, allowing readers to see that each character and person as unique individuals and that uniqueness is to be accepted.

Finally, and possibly most importantly, the characters in the text are able to self-actualize. While many would concentrate specifically on Aristotle and Dante, Aristotle’s parents self-actualize as much as their son. Aristotle’s parents have experienced extremely difficult problems in their lives. Aristotle’s father survives the Vietnam War, only to be tormented by his experience in his dreams. Aristotle's mom suffered an emotional breakdown and struggled to recover. Throughout the text, Aristotle and his parents struggle to communicate because of his parents’ issues. Aristotle’s father can’t talk about the war and his mother can’t talk about his brother. At the end of the text, Aristotle’s mother is finally able to talk about his brother. She says “He killed someone, Ari. . . I’ve never said that before” (Saenz 329). Later, his father asks Aristotle, “Did I ever tell you about any of my skirmishes while I was in Vietnam?” (Saenz 353). Both of Aristotle’s parents overcome their own insecurities about their pasts. Logan, et al, explain that “As characters encounter barriers, struggles, and crises, they gain resiliency and exit with a sense of self-confidence. This self-confidence leads to actualization, which is awareness followed by emancipation and empowerment” (33). Not only do Dante and Aristotle experience empowerment, Aristotle’s parents are empowered and begin to overcome their pasts.

It would be impossible to rave about Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. However, Logan and his colleagues provide teachers with criteria for evaluating quality young adult queer literature, and this text complies with many of those criteria. Dante and Aristotle act as windows and mirrors to readers. The provide opportunities for readers to learn about themselves and others through the thoughts and actions of both characters. In addition, Aristotle’s parents self-actualize during the novel, giving readers an opportunity to see characters overcome their problems and understand themselves on a greater level. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is an excellent young adult literature text that also happens to be a queer text. It is refreshing, unexpected, and fits the criteria of a quality work of queer literature.

(Saenz)

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Logan, Stephanie, et al. "Criteria for the Selection of Young Adult Queer Literature." English Journal 103.1 (2014): 30-41.

Saenz, Benjamin Alire. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. New York: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, 2012. E-book.