Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas | Book Review

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Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Series: Cemetery Boys #1
Published by Swoon Reads on September 1, 2020
Genres: YA Fantasy, LGBT, BIPOC
Pages: 344
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased

Content Warnings: Murder, Transphobia, Misgendering, Deadnaming, Death, Grief, Blood, Violence, Abuse, Racism, Deportation
Rating:

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him. When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his 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 up 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.

If you are looking for a book to help diversify your shelf, look no further than Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. While it is distinctly and beautifully Young Adult, it is YA fantasy done right. Cemetery Boys is a coming-of-age story rooted in gender expression, familial ties, and culture. Thomas does an exceptional job of immersing the reader in the family's cultural roots, including both the good and the bad. This truly highlights how families sometimes get things wrong, but that those transgressions can be forgiven when real change takes place, and people grow.

Our main character, Yadriel, is a young, trans boy, struggling to be accepted by his family for who he truly is. What's interesting is that, unlike other books where the queer character is wholly accepted or wholly rejected, Yadriel exists in a liminal space. His family very clearly loves him, with several fully accepting his transition, while others express their love with backhanded, transphobic comments to boot. This made the story feel so much more real as we watch Yadriel struggle with what many young queer children experience. Yadriel wants nothing more than to be fully and wholly accepted by his family for who he truly is, and we watch as he struggles to reconcile his desire to be a part of his family while also being authentically Yadriel. All of this is tied to the disappearance of his cousin, whom the family believes has been murdered. Yadriel believes that if he can find his cousin and help his soul rest, he will finally be accepted into the family as his true self.

“You don’t need anyone’s permission to be you, Yads.."

During this process, Yadriel unexpectedly resurrects a ghost of one of his fellow classmates, Julian, and the two set off to find themselves. What unfolds is a beautiful, yet humorous, love story of two boys coming into their own. I am getting teary-eyed just thinking about the ending and the purity of the love Yads and Julian share. It is sure to move even the most stoic of readers.

Thomas is a truly exceptional storyteller, although there are several instances of info-dumping, which reduced my 5-star rating down to a 4. I generally like to be shown instead of told, as I am sure many of you do too, but it didn't pull terribly away from the story. Overall, a very solid read that will leave you craving more.