“Things weren’t magically fixed by an empowering speech, but it opened doors and built bridges. It carved out space for Yadriel to step forward and be who he was, as he was. There were still 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.”
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas is an alluring, mystical story of brujx, spirits, and acceptance. Yadriel Vélez Flores is a 16-year-old trans boy who hopes that his quinces will prove himself to his community as a real boy and a brujo. But he has to do it in secret, since his family is unsure how his transgender identity will translate to the ceremony. Along with his cousin Maritza, Yadriel successfully receives the blessing from Lady Death as a brujo, but the sudden and cruel death of another cousin causes Yadriel’s family to thoughtlessly treat him the way they treat the women of the family. It’s been a difficult transition for them, which hasn’t been fair to Yadriel. To make his father and community see the truth, Yadriel tries to summon the ghost of his dead cousin, but accidentally summons another spirit – Julian Diaz, the bad boy at Yadriel’s school, who is surrounded by unsavory rumours about his friends and family. Julian is unwilling to be released to the afterlife before he ties loose ends with his friends and brother, so Yadriel and Maritza decide to help Julian. While helping Julian, they learn about some mysterious and concerning disappearances of poor Latinx kids all around the neighbourhood, which may be tied to Yadriel’s dead cousin. Along the way, Yadriel and Julian grow closer, and it becomes increasingly difficult for Yadriel to pull himself away from Julian. But Julian is a dead boy, and Yadriel is running out of time to solve these overlapping mysteries.
“In a sea of faces, his eyes went right to Julian, and he couldn’t look away. His sharp grin. His burning gaze. It sparked a fire in Yadriel’s chest. It smoldered in his stomach. It flooded him with heat. Yadriel would happily let himself be consumed by Julian’s fire.”
Honest, witty, and beautiful: Thomas weaves a tale of magic, secrets, and tender, blooming happiness. They showcase two types of families: the ones that are born in blood and the ones that are forged in violence. Through Yadriel, they discuss the life of a trans teen looking for acceptance from his loved ones in a painfully relatable way. They bring up the dangers of stereotypes and the cruel realities of racism and discrimination that are everpresent towards the Latinx community. On a lighter note, you are shown the delicate beauties of Latinx and brujx culture, glowing embers of culture written and shared through lovely prose. The lives of Yadriel and Julian are so different, but the two boys fit in a way that just seems right, supporting each other and constantly falling for each other throughout the book. Dangerous, unpredictable, realistic, and utterly stunning, Cemetery Boys is a wonderful representation of Latinx and queer culture while still delivering an intriguing mystery, a bewitching story about family, acceptance, and love.
“May we live in faith; we are on the true path of our spirit. May we never fear death but remember we live on in the love we nurture in our time on earth. May we preserve life and guide life to death as Our Lady wills it. May we heal and support one another in this life and the next.”
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Thank you for writing about this book! I was so looking forward to it.