Benjamin Alire Sáenz, first Latino PEN/Faulkner winner, dies at 71

Benjamin Alire Sáenz, a celebrated author whose work explored the complexities of identity, love, and belonging, has died at the age of 71. Sáenz was the first Latino writer to win the prestigious PEN/Faulkner award for fiction. He passed away on July 28 in El Paso, Texas, following a prolonged illness.

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Ben believed that words could build bridges where walls once stood. He believed that every life mattered, every story deserved to be told, and every soul longed to be seen.

Born in New Mexico, Sáenz's life journey included a period as an ordained Catholic priest before he left the order and publicly identified as gay. This personal evolution deeply informed his writing, particularly his acclaimed young adult novel "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe." Published in 2012, the novel, which tells the story of two Mexican American boys falling in love, resonated with readers and earned accolades for its LGBTQ+ themes, including a Stonewall Book Award and a Lambda Literary Award.

Sáenz's literary contributions were marked by a profound belief in the power of words to foster understanding and visibility. A tribute posted on his Instagram account described him as a writer who "believed that words could build bridges where walls once stood." His narratives often centered on marginalized individuals, giving voice to those "pushed into the margins of society." He wrote about themes of love, family, memory, grief, forgiveness, and hope, always "toward the light."

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He wrote of lonely boys who discovered they were worthy of love. He wrote of deserts, rivers, family, memory, grief, forgiveness, and hope…But more than anything, he wrote toward the light.

His impact extended beyond the literary world. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who narrated the audiobook for "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" and produced its film adaptation, expressed his heartbreak, calling Sáenz a "maestro." Aitch Alberto, the film's director, remembered Sáenz as a "friend, a believer in me, and one of the greatest supporters of my work and my voice," emphasizing the trust he placed in her to bring his deeply personal characters to life.

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Heartbroken by the passing of [Benjamin Alire Sáenz]. Forever grateful he trusted me to narrate both audiobooks of Aristotle & Dante’s adventures…Condolences to his galaxy of friends and family. Rest easy, maestro.

Despite the widespread acclaim, Sáenz's work, particularly "Aristotle and Dante," also faced challenges. The novel's exploration of a same-sex relationship led to its temporary removal from a school district in Texas and bans in Russia and Belarus. Sáenz's other notable works include the poetry collection "The Book of What Remains" and adult novels such as "In Perfect Light" and "Names on a Map." He received the PEN/Faulkner award in 2013 for his story collection "Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club."

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He was a friend, a believer in me, and one of the greatest supporters of my work and my voice. He trusted me with Ari and Dante, with characters and a world that came from somewhere so deeply personal to him, and that trust changed the course of my life.