The author, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, fosters the theme that empathy can help one open up to others through dynamic characterization in the novel Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. During the early stages of the book, Aristotle Mendoza had a nihilistic approach to life. This was displayed during his first interaction with Dante. At the swimming pool, Aristotle began questioning everyday norms such as showering before entering the pool. The boy carried a stubborn state of mind when he met Dante. The page reads, “He sat down on the edge of the pool. I looked at him suspiciously. If a guy was offering to teach me how to swim, then for sure he didn’t have a life. Two guys without a life? How much fun could that be?”(17). When