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A review by sol_journal
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
5.0
4.5 (rounded to 5) out of 5 stars
So originally, I rated this 4 stars, but upon re-reading it, it deserved higher.
‘Cemetery Boys’ has so easily become a comfort book for me during the second read-through of it. I just found a home in the way Aiden Thomas has shared their culture with their readers. What makes this book so much more special is the fact that it’s based off such an important/huge (and my favorite) traditional holiday for the Latinx community! As a Chicana, I was enamored with the Día de Los Muertos theme this book revolves around- and my heart overflowed with joy and love at every little bit of it!
‘Cemetery Boys’ is the bittersweet story of Yadriel, a trans boy finding his place in his community against the ever prevalent and unbending ‘traditional values’ that are strong in his family and culture. In wanting to prove himself to his family, he completes his quinces secretly with his cousin Maritza, and summons the ghost of Julian. The death of Julian ends up tangled with the mysterious death of his own cousin, Miguel, leaving the trio to unravel the tangled web of secrets the whole situation has become.
Not only is Aiden Thomas giving lgbt+ representation, he also shares glimpses of children from latinx families trying to break out of the traditional forms their family has followed for generations- creating a new place for their voices in the process. ‘Cemetery Boys’ has all the feels for somebody finding their place, and despite already knowing how it would end, I found myself crying and falling in love with it all over again. It was hard to not get so wrapped up when it has everything I never knew I wanted in a book- magic, spirits, love, and a heavy heaping of traditions I grew up with and the start of generational healing.
Aiden Thomas has done such an amazing job with the story, themes, and character writing that my own Chicana heart has found a, and always will be at, home with this series. (Because the sequel has been announced- so exciting!!)
So originally, I rated this 4 stars, but upon re-reading it, it deserved higher.
‘Cemetery Boys’ has so easily become a comfort book for me during the second read-through of it. I just found a home in the way Aiden Thomas has shared their culture with their readers. What makes this book so much more special is the fact that it’s based off such an important/huge (and my favorite) traditional holiday for the Latinx community! As a Chicana, I was enamored with the Día de Los Muertos theme this book revolves around- and my heart overflowed with joy and love at every little bit of it!
‘Cemetery Boys’ is the bittersweet story of Yadriel, a trans boy finding his place in his community against the ever prevalent and unbending ‘traditional values’ that are strong in his family and culture. In wanting to prove himself to his family, he completes his quinces secretly with his cousin Maritza, and summons the ghost of Julian. The death of Julian ends up tangled with the mysterious death of his own cousin, Miguel, leaving the trio to unravel the tangled web of secrets the whole situation has become.
Not only is Aiden Thomas giving lgbt+ representation, he also shares glimpses of children from latinx families trying to break out of the traditional forms their family has followed for generations- creating a new place for their voices in the process. ‘Cemetery Boys’ has all the feels for somebody finding their place, and despite already knowing how it would end, I found myself crying and falling in love with it all over again. It was hard to not get so wrapped up when it has everything I never knew I wanted in a book- magic, spirits, love, and a heavy heaping of traditions I grew up with and the start of generational healing.
Aiden Thomas has done such an amazing job with the story, themes, and character writing that my own Chicana heart has found a, and always will be at, home with this series. (Because the sequel has been announced- so exciting!!)