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90sgenerasian 's review for:
Cemetery Boys
by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book. This freaking book. Oh, it's so damn good and I have so much to say about it. From the very first few pages, it had me absolutely captivated.
The protagonist, 16 year old Yadriel, is a gay, transgender Latinx who has just performed his own brujx ceremony that his own family have denied him of, believing him to be gift less just like his Tio Catriz, also born without the power of the brujx. The "brujos" are a community of men who have the power to see and talk to lingering spirits trapped in the human world and transport them to the afterlife. The "bruja", the women, have the ability to heal the living. In order to prove his worth to both himself and his family (who still see Yadriel as the person he was before he transitioned), he receives the blessing of the brujo from the brujx patron herself, Lady Death.
However, when the brujx are able to feel the death of Yadriel's cousin, Miguel, nobody is able to find his body. Thinking he might be able to find his spirit and get answers on where his missing body is, Yadriel accidentally summons the spirit of his classmate, Julian Diaz, who also mysteriously died on the same night as Miguel, just a few hours apart. Julian only remembers being the victim of a mugging gone wrong, but doesn't remember who murdered him. Just like Miguel, Julian's body also remains missing. Together, along with Yadriel's best friend, Maritza, an ex-bruja by choice, they try to piece together the mystery of their deaths.
This story is incredibly tender in its love between Yadriel and Julian, who are the only people to truly understand each other. Their softness for each other; in Julian's nonchalant acceptance for Yadriel's identity; in Yadriel's non-judgement of Julian's social status and family life, is refreshing and unconditional. They just love each other so much, your honour!
But this book is not just about Yadriel and Julian. It's about family, and about Dia de Muertos, and how those dead family members will still love you even from beyond the grave. It also tackles topics such as Latinx acceptance, deportation, colonialism, racism, xenophobia of Latinx by other Latinx, the failing of government officials, young people falling victim to street gangs, and child abuse. It's so rich in its culture of Latin America (particularly Mexico), that it felt like I was really experiencing everything myself (and I'm saying this as someone who's BEEN to Mexico). From the food, to the colours, to the language, to the Aztec and Maya histories---I felt like I learned even more of this culture that I love so much.
At its heart, this story is about Yadriel. I felt him so deeply, so viscerally. He just wants to be accepted by his family, by his community, by himself. He is the very thing that makes this story so incredible.
This is up there as one of the best YA novels I've ever read. Aiden Thomas is not afraid to shy away from difficult topics whilst also creating an incredibly tender LGBTQ+ love story. It has the right amount of supernatural, murder mystery, action, and romance. I'm just annoyed I didn't read it sooner.
The protagonist, 16 year old Yadriel, is a gay, transgender Latinx who has just performed his own brujx ceremony that his own family have denied him of, believing him to be gift less just like his Tio Catriz, also born without the power of the brujx. The "brujos" are a community of men who have the power to see and talk to lingering spirits trapped in the human world and transport them to the afterlife. The "bruja", the women, have the ability to heal the living. In order to prove his worth to both himself and his family (who still see Yadriel as the person he was before he transitioned), he receives the blessing of the brujo from the brujx patron herself, Lady Death.
However, when the brujx are able to feel the death of Yadriel's cousin, Miguel, nobody is able to find his body. Thinking he might be able to find his spirit and get answers on where his missing body is, Yadriel accidentally summons the spirit of his classmate, Julian Diaz, who also mysteriously died on the same night as Miguel, just a few hours apart. Julian only remembers being the victim of a mugging gone wrong, but doesn't remember who murdered him. Just like Miguel, Julian's body also remains missing. Together, along with Yadriel's best friend, Maritza, an ex-bruja by choice, they try to piece together the mystery of their deaths.
This story is incredibly tender in its love between Yadriel and Julian, who are the only people to truly understand each other. Their softness for each other; in Julian's nonchalant acceptance for Yadriel's identity; in Yadriel's non-judgement of Julian's social status and family life, is refreshing and unconditional. They just love each other so much, your honour!
But this book is not just about Yadriel and Julian. It's about family, and about Dia de Muertos, and how those dead family members will still love you even from beyond the grave. It also tackles topics such as Latinx acceptance, deportation, colonialism, racism, xenophobia of Latinx by other Latinx, the failing of government officials, young people falling victim to street gangs, and child abuse. It's so rich in its culture of Latin America (particularly Mexico), that it felt like I was really experiencing everything myself (and I'm saying this as someone who's BEEN to Mexico). From the food, to the colours, to the language, to the Aztec and Maya histories---I felt like I learned even more of this culture that I love so much.
At its heart, this story is about Yadriel. I felt him so deeply, so viscerally. He just wants to be accepted by his family, by his community, by himself. He is the very thing that makes this story so incredible.
This is up there as one of the best YA novels I've ever read. Aiden Thomas is not afraid to shy away from difficult topics whilst also creating an incredibly tender LGBTQ+ love story. It has the right amount of supernatural, murder mystery, action, and romance. I'm just annoyed I didn't read it sooner.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Racism, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Car accident, Colonisation, Deportation