Book #3 of 2016. 
 This is the first book of 2016 that I have absolutely adored. From start to finish, I thought that the characters read as authentically beautiful with realistic growth. This is the perfect example of bildungsroman; sure, there are events that seem action packed, but most of the plot occurs within the minds of Ari and Dante as they try to figure out who they are. My favorite chapters were those that were almost completely dialogue because it demonstrated how well Saenz had developed his characters. I hope to use these portions to eventually teach dialogue. 
 I was simultaneously happy and disappointed with the ending. (view spoiler)[ While of course, you want to root for Ari and Dante to get together because how could you not love Dante?, I was more interested in exploring what it means to be a friend than being in love. I thought it was cool that for the majority of the book, Ari was able to love Dante without being in love, and I think that is a word that we need to throw around more often with adolescent boys. (hide spoiler)]. 
 Sadly, this book probably had a bit too much masturbation and swearing for me to assign it as a summer reading book as I had hoped, but I am going to put it in a prominent place on my bookshelf at school!