David McKenzie's Reviews > Cemetery Boys

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas is a unique YA fantasy novel, delving into the world of Latinx trans and queer kids, alongside mystical arts.
I was enthralled with the main characters from the start: trans-teenager Yadriel, his cousin Maritza, and the spirit Julien. They were well-rounded and had clear voices throughout the story.
Although I figured out the mystery about halfway through the book, this did not take away from my enjoyment of the story. In fact, it made me more eager to see what would happen, how the characters would deal with the inevitable conflict to come, and what the final outcome would be for each of them. Kudos to Thomas, I was a little surprised by the ending.
I really enjoyed the Latinx cultural references through the story as well. It made the setting and fantasy elements real, as though this is exactly how life is played out in East L.A.
This is a story of owning one's identity, family connectedness (whether through born-family or found-family), cultural barriers to queer acceptance, and ultimately, love.
This is a must-read in queer literature.