Cemetery Boys
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Cemetery Boys

Aiden Thomas2020
A trans boy determined to prove his gender to his traditional Latinx family summons a ghost who refuses to leave in Aiden Thomas's paranormal YA debut Cemetery Boys, described by Entertainment Weekly as "groundbreaking." Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him. When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave. Praise for Cemetery Boys: "The novel perfectly balances the vibrant, energetic Latinx culture while delving into heavy topics like LGBTQ+ acceptance, deportation, colonization, and racism within authoritative establishments." —TeenVogue.com "This stunning debut novel from Thomas is detailed, heart-rending, and immensely romantic. I was bawling by the end of it, but not from sadness: I just felt so incredibly happy that this queer Latinx adventure will get to be read by other kids. Cemetery Boys is necessary: for trans kids, for queer kids, for those in the Latinx community who need to see themselves on the page. Don’t miss this book." —Mark Oshiro, author of Anger is a Gift
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Reviews

Photo of Abigail
Abigail@abigailb
4 stars
Nov 2, 2024

Loved the lore and the familial structure of the magic system. The romance was also so freaking sweet and built on fast friendship (for reference this is YA).


Pacing was a bit slow for me but the writing was so solid for this debut I’ll read this author again!

Photo of sharkie
sharkie@scyllalycoris
3 stars
Jun 28, 2024

I was SO excited to finally read this, however I was quite a bit disappointed. The narrative pace is really frustrating, however the characters were likeable and I did enjoy the story. I do think this is rather aimed at younger readers, however the diverse representation draws in lots of older readers for whom it might be a bit boring and easy to figure out what was going to happen.

Photo of Anjorin Molayo
Anjorin Molayo @bookishtems
5 stars
Jun 1, 2024

this is too cute! i love the plot! i love the characters! i love how issues like transphobia, misgendering, gender and identity were addressed in this book. it’s also funny 😂. i’m actually leaning towards YA books, coz they make me swoon 🥹. A big thanks to Aiden Thomas 🫶🏾.

Photo of Bria
Bria@ladspter
5 stars
May 31, 2024

** spoiler alert ** If they don’t get married, what was it for

Photo of ephe
ephe@etlahaine
5 stars
Apr 13, 2024

BRILLIANT

Photo of Kaylee Ray
Kaylee Ray@epeolatri
5 stars
Apr 5, 2024

if you’ll excuse me i’ll be laying in bed crying about this amazing book for the next three days

Photo of Sarah Sammis
Sarah Sammis@pussreboots
3 stars
Apr 4, 2024

The book seems to be populated with people who don't know how to search. The adults especially brought to mind the clichéd Scooby-Doo chase. Yads and Martiza's trouble is more understandable because they do have school and chores to manage too, but the narrative pacing was still frustrating. At about the halfway point a big clue is dropped. It was enough for me to figure out how things were going to play out. If I were younger, I probably wouldn't have caught on. I might also have been more invested in Yads and Julian. As is, though, I will admit to skimming to the end and having my hypothesis confirmed. http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comm... 3300CC couple city maze

Photo of Lila Roberts
Lila Roberts@lilaroberts
5 stars
Apr 3, 2024

i read this in one day, almost one sitting, i could not put it down !!! 😭😭😭 so good omg

Photo of akynn
akynn @akynn
4 stars
Mar 9, 2024

4.5⭐️

Photo of Cloudface
Cloudface@cloudface
4 stars
Feb 4, 2024

This book was delightful and I’m so glad I finally read it. It’s a pretty standard YA book in terms of plot, but the characters breathe some much needed new life into the genre, and the writing style is both easy and engaging. After reading the Sunbearer Trials and loving that too, Aiden Thomas is now on my must read author list. 
Also, the audiobook has a bonus interview with the author at the end, which was fun. 

Photo of Andréa Mellalieu
Andréa Mellalieu@dremellalieu
4 stars
Jan 3, 2024

My son chose this book for a bookclub we are in together. We devoured it in 2 days, and happily suspended our disbelief to enjoy every minute. So much fun ♥️👏

Photo of Nina Verhaaff
Nina Verhaaff @nina2501
3 stars
Nov 15, 2023

enjoyed it a lot, something new. spooky vibes, perfect time to read it.

Photo of Erica⚔️
Erica⚔️@cloudberry
5 stars
Jul 12, 2023

Have I found a new favorite author ? What a beautiful book ! I am thrilled this was my first LGBT+ love interest book. It is a single book, so no string attached, still be prepared for some strong emotions.


I found the book raw, beautifully written, with loveable characters. It is medium paced, there is love, humour, mystery, magic, self-love and self-acceptance journey.


We follow Yadriel, a young brujex (spirit guardians, a connection to the dead) on his journey to becoming a brujo, as well as his true battle: having his family accept him as he is, a trans boy.

He is is determined to belong and prove himself worth it. So with the help of his cousin Maritza, he sets to have his brujo ceremony, and help a spirit cross to the other side. But things don’t go as smooth, or as easily they had hoped for, and they end up bringing the spirit of a young boy named Julian.

+16
Photo of Amb
Amb@ambortly
5 stars
Jul 4, 2023

So good!! Amazing representation, great story, characters to care about

Photo of Erzse Reed
Erzse Reed@erzse
5 stars
Jul 4, 2023

Yeah it’s good

Photo of g.
g.@georgias
5 stars
Jun 27, 2023

i am appalled this book had the nerve to end on me. how dare you not to last forever?!

Photo of Angie Van Sprang
Angie Van Sprang@angievansprang
5 stars
Apr 13, 2023

The characters in this book were so vivid and alive, ironic considering some were ghosts. I found myself hopelessly enthralled by this YA romance and constantly trying to predict the outcome of the mystery/thriller side. A novel rich in Latine and general teen culture, I would definitely recommend giving this one a read.

+7
Photo of Maga P
Maga P@finalgirl
4.75 stars
Feb 13, 2023

Ok, so.  What I liked: Wonderful characters, all the love, detail and care put into depicting the latinx diaspora and their traditions, how it built into that for the brujx lore and worldbuilding, THE YEARNING OF IT ALL, and… have I said the characters? It being an own voices book it's not like I was expecting walking latinx stereotypes, but the fact it went above and beyond in Julian's characterization as a brown boy that everyone reads as a hopeless troublemaker because of his neurodiversity (he has adhd, I can see) was something I especially loved. What I didn't like: Ever since the first clues were dropped I was Really hoping it wasn't going to do what it eventually did—  I'm not a fan of outliers being represented as extremists that go through methods considered less ethical to even the ground with those that were born into their abilities/status while the system that's ostracized them in the first place is not put in question.  I know the book criticizes the transphobia and gender roles in the brujx community and I'm content with what it did in that regard, but the fact that the question of the treatment of magicless folks born into the brujx community (which is was what caused the main conflict in the first place) was left pretty much only addressed in a couple of lines leaves much to be desired. Yadriel has magic and he's eventually recognized by his family. It seems like we shouldn't care about the other marginalized members of the community.    Aside from that, wonderful read. I'll carry these characters with me for a long time.

Photo of Alexa M
Alexa M@alexasversion
4 stars
Feb 6, 2023

this was so fun, i really enjoyed it! and all the representation was amazing.

Photo of Rebecca Obrien
Rebecca Obrien@beccaobrien
5 stars
Feb 5, 2023

I really enjoyed it. I loved the Humor in it

Photo of Aishling
Aishling@nilghias
3 stars
Jan 28, 2023

3.5 ⭐️ I would just like to thank cemetery boys for pulling me out of my book slump, I’ll add more words to think when I’ve had time to process it all.

Photo of dija
dija@dija
4 stars
Jan 23, 2023

This was so 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

Photo of anne
anne@herondaisie
5 stars
Jan 22, 2023

4.5

Photo of brianna
brianna@adansey
4 stars
Jan 22, 2023

"he didn't see how anyone could get a clean break from julian once they entered his orbit." cemetery boys has unexpectedly become a new favorite for me. i wasn't sure if it would live up to the hype since it took me a bit to get into, but once i did, i fell completely in love. julian, yadriel, and maritza mean so much to me and it warmed my heart to see them become such a tight-knit group in such a short amount of time. getting to see so much lgbt+ rep in the latinx community warmed my heart and it felt so nice to see how similar mine and yadriel's thought processes were. i think this was a wonderful debut for aiden thomas and i can't wait to read more in the future

Highlights

Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05

Julian was the most alive person he had ever met. Even as a spirit, he was bright and full of constantly moving energy. A sun crammed into the body of a boy.

Photo of Diego
Diego@namelesspope

"So the people they brought back were, like, definitely zombies, right?"

Yadriel groaned. "Not the zombies again—"

"Evilly resurrecting someone from the dead can only lead to zombies! I know it; I read books," Julian said.

Yadriel cocked an eyebrow.

"Okay, okay, okay, but I've seen enough movies to know how this goes down!" Julian corrected through barely suppressed chuckles.

Page 193

Julian Diaz it seems I have grown very fond of you

Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

Things weren't magically fixed by an empowering speech, bat opened doors and built brides. It carved out space for Yadriel to step forward and be who he was, as he was. There were sill more obstacles to overcome and battles to fight, but Yadriel wouldn't feel alone in it anymore.

No, it wasn't the end. It was a better beginning.

Page 342
Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

Yadriel would happily let himself be consumed by Julian's fire.

Page 341
Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

"I think bringing four people back from the dead makes you some kind of god," Julian mused with a shrug. "Or at least a hero."

Page 335
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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

"If you ever scare me like that again," he said breathlessly, "I'll kill you myself, Julian Diaz."*

Julian's grin was sharp. Bright. Blinding.

"Deal, he murmured be-

fore crushing him into another kiss.

Yadriel gladly let himself drown in it.

Page 332
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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

"Shut up-" Yadriel threw himself against Julian and wrapped his arms around his neck and kissing him fervently.

He felt Julian's smile under his lips. Felt his arms wrap around him and squeeze him tight again.

Page 332
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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

As if there were any force on earth that could tear Julian from Yadriel's side.

Page 320
Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

Yadriel would let himself die, gladly, if it meant saving the four who had been so viciously and carelessly sacrificed. He refused to let them die for his uncle's selfish gains.

He would do it for them. He would do it for Julian. When he looked up at Lady Death, she smiled.

Page 314
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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

One last breath sighed past Julian's lips.

Page 309
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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

Yadriel had to keep Bahlam from rising.

Page 302
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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

..dropped his hand back to his side, it left a smudged handprint down his chest.

A bloody handprint.

Page 297
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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

"Tio?" Yadriel said, squinting in the dark and unable to believe his own eyes.

Page 296
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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

How could he possibly recover from falling for Julian Diaz?

Page 288
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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

But he wanted to keep him. Selfishly, dangerously, against all reason.

Page 287
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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

"My own ofrenda?" he asked, looking up

at Yadriel.

«Didn't seem right for you to not have one, especially on Dia de Muertos." He shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. "It's not much, I just thought--I don't know-

Julian stood up. "It's perfect," he said earnestly.

Page 287
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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

Yadriel wanted to chase down the sunset. To not let it rise.

Page 276
Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

A soft caress ghosted over his lips, and Yadriel let himself drown in it.

Page 275
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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

“Me dejas robarte un beso?”

Page 275

“Can i steal a kiss?”

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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

Unabashed and beaming this was his favorite version of Julian.

Bright, carefree, and overflowing with infectious energy.

Alive.

Page 266
Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

Yadriel closed his eyes and buried his nose in the shirt. As he drifted off to sleep, he breathed in the smell of Julian, but it was already starting to fade.

Page 253
Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

Julian's voice was too gentle, his words too soft. "I want you to release me."

Page 244
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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

Yadriel tried to swallow the lump in his throat. "I'm just thinking.

"Thinking what?"

"Something selfish."

Page 244
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Photo of Aimee :)
Aimee :)@aimees_reading

No, none of them deserved Julian Diaz.

Page 212