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A review by phasingphoenix
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
5.0
If I had children, I would be giving them this book (teenaged children, but yes).
Aiden Thomas' writing is solid. At no point was I ever bored by a scene, there wasn't a single character I found annoying or hard to read through. I loved, loved, LOVED every single person who appeared over the course of this novel, and I loved the colorful and beautiful world of Yadriel's family. The book is exactly as long as it needs to be and gives the reader a satisfying, deserved ending.
I cannot stop thinking about this book.
This is a story we absolutely need on our shelves at this time. In an industry that is inundated by white or culturally ambiguous characters and stories written by white authors, it is extremely refreshing and eye-opening to read a story about trans Latinx characters written by trans Latinx folks.
And Cemetery Boys does not hold your hand! There is rarely a translation for any Spanish spoken, nor do we see any great amount of sympathy for those who do not understand or agree with the idea of someone being transgender. And this is, in my opinion, part of what makes this great. The story is not combative in any way in communicating its ideas, but it is unapologetic. It stands firm. If you come in looking for a voice directed at a straight, white reader, it is not here. But that does not make it any less accessible to a wide audience. It's beautiful.
I cannot overstate the significance of this book! I am basically none of the cultures represented here, but Cemetery Boys is now one of my all-time favorites. Also, I am in love with Yadriel and would rec this book just for that, but there is so, so much more offered here.
It's bright! It's hopeful! It's achingly real! And there's ghost romance! I read the e-version, but I'm going to get myself a physical copy because I loved it so dang much! Thank you, Aiden Thomas!
Aiden Thomas' writing is solid. At no point was I ever bored by a scene, there wasn't a single character I found annoying or hard to read through. I loved, loved, LOVED every single person who appeared over the course of this novel, and I loved the colorful and beautiful world of Yadriel's family. The book is exactly as long as it needs to be and gives the reader a satisfying, deserved ending.
I cannot stop thinking about this book.
This is a story we absolutely need on our shelves at this time. In an industry that is inundated by white or culturally ambiguous characters and stories written by white authors, it is extremely refreshing and eye-opening to read a story about trans Latinx characters written by trans Latinx folks.
And Cemetery Boys does not hold your hand! There is rarely a translation for any Spanish spoken, nor do we see any great amount of sympathy for those who do not understand or agree with the idea of someone being transgender. And this is, in my opinion, part of what makes this great. The story is not combative in any way in communicating its ideas, but it is unapologetic. It stands firm. If you come in looking for a voice directed at a straight, white reader, it is not here. But that does not make it any less accessible to a wide audience. It's beautiful.
I cannot overstate the significance of this book! I am basically none of the cultures represented here, but Cemetery Boys is now one of my all-time favorites. Also, I am in love with Yadriel and would rec this book just for that, but there is so, so much more offered here.
It's bright! It's hopeful! It's achingly real! And there's ghost romance! I read the e-version, but I'm going to get myself a physical copy because I loved it so dang much! Thank you, Aiden Thomas!