Picture a storyteller who spun tales of love, identity, and the Mexican-American borderlands with heart and grit—meet Benjamin Alire Sáenz! Born in 1954 in a tiny New Mexico farming village, Sáenz transformed his life’s joys and struggles into poetry, novels, and young adult stories that resonate worldwide. From his award-winning Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe to his historic PEN/Faulkner win, Sáenz’s work is a vibrant tapestry of culture and self-discovery.
The Making of Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Growing up as the fourth of seven children on a small farm near Las Cruces, New Mexico, Sáenz worked hard—painting apartments, picking onions, and roofing houses. After losing the family farm, he pursued a BA in Humanities and Philosophy at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, later studying theology in Belgium. Ordained as a Catholic priest in El Paso, he left the priesthood in 1984 to chase his true calling: writing. With an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso, Sáenz found his voice, shaped by the desert landscapes and border culture of his youth.
Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s Unforgettable Stories
Sáenz’s writing blends poetry, prose, and raw emotion, exploring themes of identity, sexuality, and the Mexican-American experience. His breakout young adult novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (2012), follows two teens navigating love and self-acceptance in 1980s El Paso. It won a Printz Honor, Stonewall Award, and Pura Belpré Award, captivating readers with its tender, honest storytelling. Its sequel, Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World (2021), soared to the New York Times Bestseller List. Sáenz’s poetry, like Calendar of Dust (1991), which earned an American Book Award, paints the Southwest with vivid imagery. His short story collection, Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club (2012), made history as the first Latino winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award, delving into border life with grace and grit. Sáenz’s bilingual children’s books, like A Gift from Papá Diego, celebrate family and heritage.
His style is lyrical yet accessible, weaving magical realism with stark realities. Sáenz’s characters—often young, curious, and caught between worlds—reflect his own journey, including his coming out as gay at 54, a theme that enriches his later works with vulnerability and courage.
Why Benjamin Alire Sáenz Matters
Sáenz’s impact transcends the page. As a fronterizo—a person of the border—he amplifies Latino and LGBTQ+ voices, offering representation in a world that often overlooks them. His novels, translated into 24 languages, have inspired readers globally, despite facing school library bans for their bold themes. Sáenz’s teaching at the University of Texas at El Paso’s bilingual MFA program nurtures new writers, while his paintings, a newer passion, add wordless depth to his storytelling. Honored with awards like the Texas Medal of Arts, Sáenz’s legacy is one of compassion, justice, and the power of stories to heal and connect.
- Born: August 16, 1954, Old Picacho, New Mexico
- Key Works: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club, Calendar of Dust
- Awards: PEN/Faulkner Award, American Book Award, Printz Honor, Stonewall Award
Snag Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and dive into Sáenz’s lyrical world of love, identity, and borderland magic!