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Cemetery Boys Kindle Edition

4.6 out of 5 stars 4,779

A trans boy determined to prove he's a brujo to his Latinx family summons a ghost who refuses to leave in Aiden Thomas's paranormal YA debut.

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him.


Bestowed by the ancient goddess of death, Yadriel and the gifted members of his Latinx community can see spirits: women have the power to heal bodies and souls, while men can release lost spirits to the afterlife. But Yadriel, a trans boy, has never been able to perform the tasks of the brujas - because he is a brujo.

When his cousin suddenly dies, 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 not his cousin. It's Julian Diaz, the resident bad boy of his high school, 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.
Popular Highlights in this book

Editorial Reviews

Review

Longlisted for the 2020 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature
A YALSA 2021 Best Fiction for Young Adults
Top Ten pick

"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

"Aiden Thomas' debut novel can't help but charm and captivate readers of all ages, though teen readers will invariably identify with and appreciate the high jinks and emotional vulnerability that make each character and scenario deliciously enchanting." ―
Booklist, starred review

" 'Scooby-Doo' meets 'Love, Simon' in this inclusive supernatural romance steeped in East Los Angeles Latinx culture.... Thomas injects the queer paranormal romance genre with a fresh shot of lavishly detailed Latinx culture, blending in Mayan, Mexican, Central American and South American traditions while commenting on cultural appropriation, deportation and class. Windows into the intersecting Latinx and L.G.B.T.Q. experience are plentiful here, and the opportunities for discovery and discussion are endless." --
New York Times Book Review

"This book is magical, tender, loving, and so so so important. I love it with all my heart." ―Mason Deaver, author of
I Wish You All The Best

"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

"Cemetery Boys is a celebration of culture and identity that will captivate readers with its richly detailed world, earnest romance, and thrilling supernatural mystery. This delightful debut is a must-read for all paranormal romance fans." ―Isabel Sterling, author of These Witches Don't Burn

"
Thomas marries concept and execution in a romantic mystery as poignant as it is spellbinding, weaved in a mosaic of culture, acceptance, and identity, where intricately crafted characters are the pieces and love―platonic, romantic, familial, and communal―is the glue." ― Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Cemetery Boys is nothing short of an astonishing work of art. Aiden Thomas masterfully weaves a tale of family, friendships, and love in a heartwarming adventure full of affirmation and being your best self." ― C.B. Lee, author of Not Your Sidekick

"A gay, transgender brujo with burgeoning powers seeks answers about his cousin’s death... Both the romance and mystery burn slow and hot until the climax... Their romance provides joyful, ground-breaking representation for gay, transgender boys. Heart-pounding." ―
Kirkus

"A story much bigger than the paper that binds it,
Cemetery Boys is the tender intricacy we have all been waiting for." ―Kayla Ancrum, author of The Wicker King

"Speaking from experience, this is the kind of book that you read and then immediately go force all your friends to read so they can share the pleasure." ―Buzzfeed

"A wildly memorable novel." ―Paste

"Magical, swoonworthy, and utterly charming." ―Bitch Media

"This one is just what your heart needs right now." ―TOR.com

"Thomas sensitively navigates Yadriel’s struggles as a trans teen, from the insecurity of not wearing his binder at night around Julian, to deadnaming by family members, to the emotional burden of constantly forgiving people who misgender him. In spite of some heavy themes, this is a pleasing ghost-story-turned-romcom ... Readers wary of tragic endings can relax―there’s a well-deserved happy ending in store for this ghost boy and brujo." ―
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"
Packed with eerie adventure, tingly romance, and family drama, the novel lays bare the tension between upholding tradition and reaching full self-acceptance. Cheeky, relatable characters bring humor and lightness into Thomas’s debut, which also takes on themes of death, loss, abandonment, and rejection." ― Horn Book

About the Author

Aiden Thomas, author of Cemetery Boys,received their MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. Born in Oakland, California, Aiden often haunted Mountain View Cemetery like a second home during their misspent youth. As a queer, trans Latinx, Aiden advocates strongly for diverse representation in all media. Aiden is notorious among their friends for always being surprised by twist endings to books/movies and organizing their bookshelves by color. When not writing, Aiden enjoys exploring the outdoors with their dog, Ronan. Their cat, Figaro, prefers to support their indoor hobbies, like reading and drinking too much coffee.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07TVZXQ5V
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Swoon Reads (September 1, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 1, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4885 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 350 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 4,779

About the author

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Aiden Thomas
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Aiden Thomas is a New York Times Bestselling author with an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. Originally from Oakland, California, they now make their home in Portland, Oregon. As a queer, trans Latinx, Aiden advocates strongly for diverse representation in all media. Aiden’s special talents include: quoting The Office, winning Jenga, finishing sentences with “is my FAVORITE”, and killing spiders. Aiden is notorious for not being able to guess the endings of books and movies, and organizes their bookshelves by color.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
4,779 global ratings
Bewitching debut novel, emotional and lovely..
5 Stars
Bewitching debut novel, emotional and lovely..
(I received this title as an ARC. All opinions are mine and freely given.)"Am I dead?""Yeah....""Oh, Jesus." -- "My brother is gonna kill me..""Looks like someone already beat him to it."'Cemetery Boys' by Aiden Thomas has been one of my most highly anticipated releases of the year and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I'm still feeling a little raw from reading it..Following the path of a trans boy named Yadriel, the story centers around his determination to prove his status as a brujo to his traditional Latinx family as he struggles with the inherent prejudices both inside and outside their community.Wielding ancient magic gifted to them by their goddess, Lady Death, those who carry her gift are able to see spirits. Women have the power to heal bodies and souls, while men can release lost spirits into the afterlife, but as a trans boy.. Yadriel has never been able to heal like the brujas.. and the leader of the brujx has never allowed him to prove he can fulfill the role of a brujo.Having been prevented from going through his quinces, Yadriel and his best friend Maritza take it upon themselves to see his opportunity come to fruition. When his cousin dies suddenly, Yadriel's focus on proving himself becomes laser-sharp."You don't need anyone's permission to be you, Yads..."When the spirit he summons turns out not to be his cousin, but rather the resident bad boy.. Julian Diaz, things grow even more complicated. Julian isn't interested in passing quietly into the afterlife. He's intent on discovering what happened to him and taking care of some things before he leaves.. and with Yadriel unable to force him, the two make a deal to help each other.Much of the mythos here is born of a mixture of Aztec and Mayan legend that makes up the more recent Mexican-American folk Catholicism.. such as Mictecacihuatl, the Aztec goddess and queen of the underworld, also known as Santa Muerte (Saint Death or Holy Death).. la Niña Blanca (the White Girl).. la Huesuda (the Bony Lady).. la Flaquita (the Skinny Lady).. and many other names.The magic origins are built largely from the stories of Xibalba (roughly translated as Place of Fright or Place of Fear), which is prominient in both early cultures.. though Bahlam, the Jaguar god and one of the Hero Twins of the Popol Vuh (though there are three translations of this text so it varies slightly), is born of Mayan sources who were said to have defeated the Lords of the Underworld (Xibalba) who had tricked and killed their father and uncle, also twins. Here though, Bahlam is no benevolent being.. and it is conflict between him and Lady Death that actually begins the story of the generations of brujx."You're insufferable...""Yeah, but I think you're kinda into it..."Obviously, the story is full of mystique and the tales from which portions of it are created only make it more interesting.. if that's possible. I've always been entranced by myths of gods and goddesses from all cultures and of the pantheons, the Aztec and Mayan remain amongst my favorites.It's impossible not to feel for Yadriel, not to want to shout at those who make things unnecessarily difficult for him.. and not to warm to Maritza for being that ride or die chick by his side. The best friend who will fight the world for him, who wants to see him succeed maybe even more than he does.. even if she has a moral aversion to aspects of the lifestyle for herself.Thomas did a fantastic job of painting Julian as an obnoxious, stubborn spirit with a wicked temper, all the while managing to offer us peeks of those parts of himself he preferred to keep hidden. If I'm being honest, Luca broke my heart more than anyone.. but there's a lot of beauty and a lot of pain sprinkled deftly throughout this bewitching debut novel with all the skill of an old hand.I caught myself laughing and couldn't stop myself from crying. It's emotional and lovely.. and everything I could have hoped for...
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2021
I don’t even know where to begin, except that I loved every single word of Cemetery Boys. What a brilliant and fun story; filled with a mystery to solve, loveable characters, a sarcastic ghost, and a trans narrative that is absolutely affirming. Seriously, this book has it all.

We have fun and realistic characters. Honestly, every character was meaningful and helped give the worldbuilding extra depth. Yadriel, Martiza, and Julian are simply the best. I would absolutely want to be friends with them and also defend them with my life. Which is how fictional characters should make you feel, right? AND I TOTALLY HAD A CASE OF THE FEELS…all the emotions while reading this one.

While there are stressful factors for our characters, including mysterious murders, death as well as grief, transphobia and misgendering, however the book truly is joyful. Full of Latinx culture, learning, growth, as well as love and acceptance. I think there are many morals to learn and especially for cis readers to understand and experience the agony that trans folx experience especially when misgendered. I can only hope that from understanding and experiencing these traumas will and can lead to empathy and visibility.

The debut narrator, Avi Roque, was perfect. Their voice was full of emotion and was absolutely brilliant in helping me get lost in the story. I’m looking forward to hearing more of Avi’s voice!

This book has my whole heart. I can’t even imagine how impactful it will be for teens to be represented and to see themselves in this novel. Plus it is perfect for this time of year with all the fall vibes, magic, and ghosts. It is one of my favorite books I read this year and I really hope many of you too, will read Cemetery Boys.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2021
I cannot even begin to express how much I loved this book. Aiden Thomas knocked it out of the park with their debut novel. I have heard really great things about this book, but it was even better than the high expectations I already had for it. Just in case you cannot tell how much I loved it, I already own multiple copies. I have the ebook, regular hardcover, and the Barnes and Noble Exclusive edition on the way. I honestly cannot wait to collect this book in as many forms as possible.

Cemetery Boys follows Yadriel, a transgender boy who is trying to prove himself as a brujo to his Latinx family. They do not accept him because of their traditions, so he takes it upon himself to show them that he has what it takes. When Yadriel’s cousin Miguel is murdered, he wants to use this opportunity to summon Miguel, find out what happened, and set his ghost free. Yadriel hopes this will prove once and for all that he can be a brujo. With the help of his best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual to summon Miguel. However, things do not go exactly as planned. Instead of summoning Miguel, Yadriel accidentally summons Julian Diaz, the school’s bad boy. Julian refuses to be released until he finds out what happened to him and makes sure his friends are safe. Together, Yadriel and Julian team up to help one another achieve what they set out to do. The two then form a really close bond after getting to know one another, which makes Yadriel realize he does not want Julian to leave.

This book is no joke. It is packed full of representation and culture. It has everything anyone could want: a trans main character, gay romance, a latinx cast, Día de Muertos. I was so immersed and invested in this book. The writing was some of the best I have seen. Thomas does an amazing job at bringing their characters to life off the page. They are funny, charming, relatable, likable. Julian’s personality was so heartwarming and made me care even more about him. I also loved Maritza. She was strong, fierce, and knew what she wanted. I loved how all of these characters worked together to talk about identity and family.

I absolutely loved everything about Cemetery Boys. Thomas is an incredible writer, and I cannot what to see what they release next. I highly recommend this book because I do not see how anyone could possibly be disappointed by it.

*Content warning: death, blood, violence, transphobia, deadnaming, misgendering, death of a loved one*
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Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2020
Aiden Thomas's queer YA, fantasy, mystery, romance, coming-of-age story CEMETERY BOYS is pure magic!

Yadriel comes from an ancient ancestral lineage of brujx who have been granted magical powers by Lady Death: men are able to release spirits to the afterlife and women can heal the living. Yadriel feels like an outsider from his community because he has been denied the rite of passage to become a brujo because he is transgendered. But when his cousin mysteriously dies and the brujx cannot find his body, Yadriel sees an opportunity to prove himself. While trying to solve the mystery, Yadriel mistakenly summons the ghost of fellow teen: bad boy Julian. Now Yadriel must help resolve Julian’s unfinished business while still proving himself to his family and community!

It’s very apparent that as a queer, trans, Latinx author himself, Aiden Thomas has written CEMETERY BOYS as a love letter to Latinx culture and queer identity. The vivid descriptions of the brujx traditions and Día de Muertos celebration were fascinating and informative. Trans identity is thoughtfully represented with nuanced discussion around chest-binders, proper pronouns, and deadnames. I loved that the story highlighted many different types of relationships: romantic, familial, chosen family, friendships, and cultural. I do feel like the strict gendering of the brujx magic didn’t necessarily fit with the inclusiveness of the story though the possibility of nonbinary and agender brujx was briefly touched on. And though I found the mystery a little predictable, the characters are spectacular and the journey is well worth it!

Do yourself a favor and read CEMETERY BOYS! This book has something for everyone: it’s got magic, mystery, first-love, loss, evil spirits, all while celebrating Latinx and queer identity! It will make you laugh, cry, and swoon! This Own Voice YA debut is an absolute triumph!

Follow my Instagram for more book reviews and fun book content: @BookyNooky
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4.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Celebration of Latinx and Queer Identity!
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2020
Aiden Thomas's queer YA, fantasy, mystery, romance, coming-of-age story CEMETERY BOYS is pure magic!

Yadriel comes from an ancient ancestral lineage of brujx who have been granted magical powers by Lady Death: men are able to release spirits to the afterlife and women can heal the living. Yadriel feels like an outsider from his community because he has been denied the rite of passage to become a brujo because he is transgendered. But when his cousin mysteriously dies and the brujx cannot find his body, Yadriel sees an opportunity to prove himself. While trying to solve the mystery, Yadriel mistakenly summons the ghost of fellow teen: bad boy Julian. Now Yadriel must help resolve Julian’s unfinished business while still proving himself to his family and community!

It’s very apparent that as a queer, trans, Latinx author himself, Aiden Thomas has written CEMETERY BOYS as a love letter to Latinx culture and queer identity. The vivid descriptions of the brujx traditions and Día de Muertos celebration were fascinating and informative. Trans identity is thoughtfully represented with nuanced discussion around chest-binders, proper pronouns, and deadnames. I loved that the story highlighted many different types of relationships: romantic, familial, chosen family, friendships, and cultural. I do feel like the strict gendering of the brujx magic didn’t necessarily fit with the inclusiveness of the story though the possibility of nonbinary and agender brujx was briefly touched on. And though I found the mystery a little predictable, the characters are spectacular and the journey is well worth it!

Do yourself a favor and read CEMETERY BOYS! This book has something for everyone: it’s got magic, mystery, first-love, loss, evil spirits, all while celebrating Latinx and queer identity! It will make you laugh, cry, and swoon! This Own Voice YA debut is an absolute triumph!

Follow my Instagram for more book reviews and fun book content: @BookyNooky
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Josue Damisch
5.0 out of 5 stars Producto de calidad.
Reviewed in Mexico on February 22, 2024
El libro de pasta dura es algo pequeño, pero debajo de la sobrecubierta tiene un diseño de flor dorada que está perfecto cuando conoces la historia del libro.

En cuanto a a la historia, es disfrutable. Me gustó.
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Josue Damisch
5.0 out of 5 stars Producto de calidad.
Reviewed in Mexico on February 22, 2024
El libro de pasta dura es algo pequeño, pero debajo de la sobrecubierta tiene un diseño de flor dorada que está perfecto cuando conoces la historia del libro.

En cuanto a a la historia, es disfrutable. Me gustó.
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vitroliv
5.0 out of 5 stars Cemetery boys-4,5⭐️
Reviewed in Brazil on September 14, 2021
- Inglês intermediário, achei bem de boa;
- Fantasia adolescente que eu AMO, o trio é, assim como em HP e PJ, maravilhoso;
- Me diverti MUITO lendo, o Julian irritando o Yadriel 24/7, a Maritza maravilhosa sempre ali pra ajudar o Julian a fazer a vida do Yadriel um inferno kkkkk, ou seja, o famoso trio de fantasia adolescente;
- A história é cheia de elementos da cultura mexicana, chega da vontade de experimentar umas comidinhas da abuela do Yadriel, isso deixou o livro mais interessante pq, mesmo que se passe nos EUA ele tem traços marcantes da nacionalidade da família do Yadriel;
- A trajetória do Yadriel depois de se assumir é bem realista e cuidadosa, é heartbreaking lê como ele se sente depois de ouvir algumas coisas preconceituosas pela própria família, e o autor narra muito bem essas partes, até porque é um livro own voice.
- “Yadriel was always forgiving people for being callous. For misgendering him and calling him by his dead-name… He was tired of forgiving.He was tired of fighting to just exist and be himself.”
- OBS: É bom pesquisar “trigger warnings “pq esse livro tem alguns.
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vitroliv
5.0 out of 5 stars Cemetery boys-4,5⭐️
Reviewed in Brazil on September 14, 2021
- Inglês intermediário, achei bem de boa;
- Fantasia adolescente que eu AMO, o trio é, assim como em HP e PJ, maravilhoso;
- Me diverti MUITO lendo, o Julian irritando o Yadriel 24/7, a Maritza maravilhosa sempre ali pra ajudar o Julian a fazer a vida do Yadriel um inferno kkkkk, ou seja, o famoso trio de fantasia adolescente;
- A história é cheia de elementos da cultura mexicana, chega da vontade de experimentar umas comidinhas da abuela do Yadriel, isso deixou o livro mais interessante pq, mesmo que se passe nos EUA ele tem traços marcantes da nacionalidade da família do Yadriel;
- A trajetória do Yadriel depois de se assumir é bem realista e cuidadosa, é heartbreaking lê como ele se sente depois de ouvir algumas coisas preconceituosas pela própria família, e o autor narra muito bem essas partes, até porque é um livro own voice.
- “Yadriel was always forgiving people for being callous. For misgendering him and calling him by his dead-name… He was tired of forgiving.He was tired of fighting to just exist and be himself.”
- OBS: É bom pesquisar “trigger warnings “pq esse livro tem alguns.
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8 people found this helpful
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Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars Gut
Reviewed in Germany on April 4, 2024
Was soll ich sagen, gutes Buch.
Abwicklung war wie gewohnt gut
Jill Jemmett
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing debut
Reviewed in Canada on March 6, 2021
Yadriel’s brujx family has trouble accepting him as a transgender boy. He wants to prove to them that he can be a brujo, so he summons a ghost. The problem is that he can’t send the ghost on to the afterlife. The ghost turns out to be a bad boy from his school, Julian. Julian wants to make sure his friends are okay before going to the afterlife because he can’t remember the final moments of his life. Yadriel agrees to help Julian, but as they get closer, Yadriel gets more reluctant to send Julian’s spirit away.

I loved the way this story looked at gender through traditions and magic. Yadriel’s family was very traditional. They didn’t want to accept him as a brujo because he was born a girl. Some of his family members refused to use his correct pronouns or his preferred name. This was a little complicated, since the Spanish language uses only male or female genders. Similarly, their magic system only identifies someone as a brujo (a boy) or a bruja (a girl). That becomes a problem when someone identifies as male, but the family sees them as female. Yadriel had the support of a couple of family members who helped him find his true magic.

I was shocked at the ending. I didn’t see the final twists coming at all. During the last few chapters, I was getting worried that the story wouldn’t end the way I wanted it to. However, there were some surprises and I was pleased with the ending.

This is an amazing debut! I’m so glad I finally read it.
2 people found this helpful
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Lia v.
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
Reviewed in the Netherlands on September 30, 2021
A young adult cute story about a trans boy wanting to prove himself to his family once and for all as a boy and brujo. He does something he isn’t supposed to do and in the same night his cousins gets brutally murdered but he can’t find his body. He then summons a ghost. But it’s someone else.
With the rude gay Julian he must find out if his friends are Allright and who killed him.

Honestly if you read a lot of books half way thru you kinda already can guess what is gonna happen if you pay attention to the details. But the end it worth it in my opinion. Their story is so cute 🥰 and it’s nice to have some Spanish and trans trown in a book.

Its worth the boy trust me!
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