This was a really fun read that reminded me of other books I love (Halloween Tree, Sabriel). The characters felt fully realized and realistic. They made choices true to the personalities given. I was also pleased with the gender and tradition discussions throughout. They felt “earned” and not preachy or wedged in. They were also vital to the plot. Bonus points for the most realistic pit bull descriptions I’ve read. ( )

This book had an interesting premise and a lot of interesting pieces. I liked the Brujx, the Latinx themes, the Trans themes, and the family that seems to care about the main character but... just keeps getting stuff so hurtfully *wrong*.

However, the writing itself was not so good. And that is the big thing for me. I really want a book that engages me rather than just being told and told what is happening. I only got about a third of the way through before putting it down; the consensus in my book club was it continued as it started, and the things obvious in the beginning all end up as expected at the end (and that we were not exactly the target audience for the book).

I really had trouble getting into this book. It really felt like one more round of the ‘teenage boy doesn’t feel respected and opts to act out in a way validated by teenage-boy-tropes’. So, I was sold on the main character’s identity as male I was just annoyed by how trite a teenage fictional boy he was. (Which I suppose is also a success...)

Yes, this story had lots of interesting pieces. But the writing is just too unpolished for my taste. While an argument could be made that this is for a YA audience, that does not mean the writing quality needs to be so basic.

From what I understand this is a first book by the author, and future material may be a bit more practiced. If it is a setting they come back to after polishing their writing it might be a good thing.

As is, I just did not care for the writing, although the pieces in the story were quite interesting. There are likely a lot of people that will quite like the story though and I am glad that they will have that. ( )

Well that was such an amazing book!

The premise was really engaging, the cast was diverse, the dialogue was excellent and the romance was adorable! I loved Yadriel's journey to have his true identity accepted within his family and the Latin American community. Wowsers the fantasy element based on traditional Mexican/Latin American mythology was utterly enthralling! I have been on 'the Google' all afternoon reading about Dia de Muertes and bruja/brujo/brujx. So fascinating. Brilliant book and I thoroughly recommend this fantasy mystery novel. I read an interview where Aiden Thomas said Yadriel and Julian's journey isn't over yet. Never a truer word was spoken and I will be waiting for more on #Yadrian ( )

My favorite thing about reading a new book is the feeling of falling in love with it for the first time. This book was no different.

This is a perfect October read! I loved the combination of many different Latinx cultures referenced, and how each one is celebrated in a little way. Thomas does an excellent job covering important issues like the Trans experience and dealing with police as a Latinx person. I love how Yadriel and Julian's relationship grows over the course of the novel, and how well the magic is woven into a modern-day society. I would love to see more of Yadriel and Julian in the future, but I do feel that their story is most likely over with this book. However, I will eagerly read Thomas's future books! ( )

Content Note: (critical treatment of) transmisia

Plot:
Yadriel wants nothing more than to prove to his family that he is a capable brujo. His family can’t believe it because he is trans, and traditionally the roles in the brujx community have been strictly gender-segregated. And how can somebody assigned female at birth fill the male role? So Yadriel sets out with his cousin Maritza to do his own coming-of-age ceremony to be ready for Día de Muertos. After their success with the ceremony, Yadriel’s cousin Miguel dies, and his body is missing. Yadriel tries to summon his spirit to ask him what happened, but something goes wrong and instead, he summons Julian, local bad boy who must have died recently. Julian has unfinished business and will not leave this world until Yadriel has helped him finish it. The more time the two spend together, the less Yadriel wants him to move on, either.

Cemetery Boys is a supersweet, inventive and engaging read that had me turning the pages like nothing. I really enjoyed it.

Read more on my blog: https://kalafudra.com/2022/12/28/cemetery-boys-aiden-thomas/ ( )