Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Books by This Author

A Perfect Season for Dreaming

A grandfather sitting under a tree
Illustrated by: Esau Andrade Valencia
Language: Spanish, Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

"Summer arrived gently, carrying a blue and cloudless sky, making it a perfect season for dreaming." So begins the story of Octavio Rivera's strange dreams of falling guitars and turtles that he shares only with his granddaughter. The compelling paintings of Esau Andrade Valencia, said to follow in Diego Rivera's footsteps, capture the fantastic nature of the dreams. Bilingual text.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

A red truck in a field under a night sky.
Age Level: 9-12, Middle Grade
Language: Spanish vocabulary featured

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 — one through which they will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World

Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World

In this companion to Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Aristotle and Dante must discover what it means to stay in love and build a relationship in a world that seems to challenge their very existence. Ari has spent all of high school burying who he really is, staying silent and invisible. He expected his senior year to be the same.

He Forgot to Say Goodbye

Young boy looking at his reflection in a mirror

Product Description: On the surface, Ramiro Lopez and Jake Upthegrove couldn't live more different lives. Ram is Mexican-American, lives in the poor section of town, and is doing his best to keep his mother sane while his brother fights off a drug-induced coma. Jake is a WASP who drives a nice car, lives in a mansion, and has a mother who drinks a bit too much and a step-father who cheats on her. But there is one point, one issue, where their lives are exactly the same; their fathers walked out on them when they were just young boys.

The Dog Who Loved Tortillas

Dog wagging its tail
Illustrated by: Geronimo Garcia
Age Level: 6-9

When Gabriela and Diego ask for a dog, their parents tell them that they will have to share, which the siblings reluctantly accept…While teaching her a trick, the children discover the pup loves tortillas; soon she is known to the entire neighborhood for her gentleness, sweetness, and as the dog who loves tortillas. When Sofie gets sick, the children finally learn to share her. Full-page innovative and colorful clay illustrations will hold the attention of young readers. — School Library Journal

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life

Young people looking at the stars

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?