Cemetery Boys | 
pickI‘ve read a lot of books in August and reviewed none. Finished this one for #riseupreads
Highly recommend!
Catsandbooks Yay! 👏🏼 🔥 2w
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pickI‘ve read a lot of books in August and reviewed none. Finished this one for #riseupreads
Highly recommend!
pickThis book crossed my way quite often, and now I finally got down to read it. Thanks, #queerbc ❤ I love reading books with trans MCs, even though I get so angry when reading about how trans people get treated. But to change that, we need more books with trans characters.
If you're listening to the audiobook, I recommend also listening to the interview at the end. Aiden and Avi have such a good chemistry ❤
@PuddleJumper
pickThis had been in my radar for awhile now, and I am SO GLAD I‘ve finally read it! Trans teen Yadriel is trying to prove himself to his family, looking for acceptance as not only a boy but as a brujo among his family of brunjx. He finds himself tethered to the spirit of Julian… and together they need to unravel the mystery of their circumstances and ultimately save the living and the spirits of Yads family. Wonderful book.
pickHands down, this is the best YA book I‘ve ever read.
When trans Yadriel tries to prove himself as a brujo to his family, he accidentally calls forth the spirit of Julian, a boy from Yadriel‘s school.
The characters were beautifully written, the romance was so sweet, and the brujx community and their Dia de los Muertos celebration was wonderful.
The best way to end the day is with book mail! I ordered this months ago and LOOK HOW PRETTY 😍
All the money I've been saving on not buying new books I haven't read yet has been going towards buying special editions of my favorites and it is so satisfying
pickThis is a sweet, easy to read YA fantasy with great depth in the main characters (though not a ton in the plot). I loved trans brujo Yadriel and his struggle to prove himself to his family. The romance is great and there are good family and friendship relationships too. The brujx culture and their preparations for Día de Muertos were fantastic.
#Cemetery Boys is one of my all time favorites! #scarathlonphotochallenge #skeletoncrew @Emilymdxn
I'm still thinking about this incredible book! Full of vibrant kickass characters and a gay trans-boy protagonist, Cemetery Boys will forever hold a special place in your heart. Yadriel's and Julian's epic journey from friends to romance rivals any that came before it, special and sweet and so touching. We need more books like this on our shelves. I became an instant fan of Aiden Thomas and will read everything they publish from this point on.
pickThis YA urban fantasy is positively magical, combining spirits, romance, acceptance, and the importance of embracing your true self. Thomas dazzles in their debut novel, representing their culture and trans-identity in one stunning story, with love and friendship at the helm. Yadriel sets out to claim his birthright as a brujo and summons an unruly, rebellious spirit named Julian Diaz, and now he's stuck with him. Not that he minds - eventually.
pickAnother great read for #Pride month! (Also works for October & November given the story‘s timing.) While I thought the plot was a little slow (& a bit unfair to poor cousin Miguel), this book gets so much right with its richly described characters - including a central trans boy as the lead POV - and a sweet love story, as well as an informative background on Día de los Muertos.
pickI love this book soooo much! It made me sob both happy and sad tears! It is exiting, wholesome and surprising! With wonderful sarcastic dialogue and badass characters! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No, it wasn't the end. It was a better beginning.
“You ready?” Julian asked.
“No,” Yadriel confessed, his voice tight.
Julian grinned. “Do it anyways.”
“If you ever scare me like that again,” he said breathlessly, “I'll kill you myself, Julian Diaz.”
“Which one of us is Cinderella in this scenario?”
“I'm the fairy godmother,” he managed to croak out. “I think that makes you the pumpkin.”
He was a boy made of fire who'd been turned to frost. He was meant to burn.
Julian was achingly beautiful, but in the way a thunderstorm was beautiful—wild, rough, electric.
And bound to leave devastation in his wake.
Julian's voice was too gentle, his words too soft. “I want you to release me.”
“Are you sure it was a guy?” Maritza asked, scuffing the toe of her shoe against an empty beer can.
“Yes it was a guy,” Julian said, annoyed. “He was taller than me, and—”
“There's plenty of women in the world over six feet—”
“Well, they were strong enough to murder me,” Julian shot back.
“I'm sure plenty of women are smart enough to overpower you,” Maritza said, casually examining her nails.
“Queer folks are like wolves,” Julian told him. “We travel in packs.”
Julian snorted. “No.” He leaned back, propping himself up on his elbows. “I don't do girlfriends.”
Yadriel rolled his eyes and scoffed. “What? Because you're some kind of mujeriego, or something? Too many ladies to pick just one?” he asked with a flare of annoyance.
“No.” Julian's tone was cross, eyes still on the page. “Because I'm gay, asshole.”
“It'd be like trying to light birthday candles with kerosene,” Yadriel tried to explain. “It'd be overkill. The candles would catch on fire, and then the cake would burst into flames,” he listed off. “But then the kerosene is tied to your life force, so you end up using all your energy and magic reserves just to light some dumb birthday candles, and then you're dead.”
“That seems like a bad metaphor.”
“It's an analogy.”
“Really?” Julian's head canted to the side, sparing Yadriel a confused squint. “I ain't never seen this place before, and I know the streets of LA like the back of my head,” he explained.
“Back of your hand,” Maritza corrected.
Julian waved her off. “Whatever.”
“I'll come back for you in the morning—” Yadriel started, moving to place the medal on the altar with Lady Death.
“Wait, what?” Julian's eyes went wide. “You can't just ditch me here!”
“I can't take you home, someone will see you!” Yadriel told him.
“I'm not letting you abandon me in a haunted church—”
“It's not haunted!”
“If I'm in here, and I'm a ghost, then it's haunted!” Julian shot back.
Julian scoffed, which was not how Yadriel thought any sane person should react to getting a knife pulled on them.
“What are you going to do, stab me?” Julian's laugh was sharp as he tapped a finger to his temple. “Already dead, remember?”
“No, I'm not gonna stab you!” Though, to be honest, it was more tempting by the minute.
He'd never had to explain who brujx were and what they did, on account of it being a huge, sacred secret they devoted their lives to keeping.
Whoops.
On the bright side, he had actually summoned a real-life spirit.
On the not-so-bright side, he had summoned the wrong one.
“If Bahlam appears and drags us down to Xibalba, I'm going to be pissed,” Maritza hissed.
Yadriel rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I'm sure Bahlam, the jaguar god of 47 the underworld, is hanging out in this old church, waiting for a couple of teenagers...
Maritza punched his arm. “I mean like a monster or something.”
“There's no such thing as monsters.”
Maritza stopped and stared at him, wide-eyed. “You didn't just say that—did you really just say that?” she demanded before throwing her arms in the air. “That's classic start-of-a-horror-movie dialogue you just threw out into the universe!”
“This place kind of gives me the creeps,” Maritza whispered at his side, rubbing her arm. “What if it's haunted?”
Yadriel huffed a laugh. “Of course it's haunted, this is literally a cemetery full of spirits,” he said.
“Uh, there's a lot of gaps in your plan,” Maritza told him.
“I didn't say it was a good one.”
Well, Yadriel was tired of it. He was tired of forgiving. He was tired of fighting to just exist and be himself. He was tired of being the odd one out.
“You stay here with the rest of the women!” Yadriel flinched.
Hot shame flooded his cheeks. He released the dagger, letting it fall to the bottom of his backpack. He glared up at his dad in an attempt to look fierce and defiant, even though his eyes burned and his hands quaked.
“The rest of the women,” he repeated, spitting the words out as if they were poisonous.
Look who we had for a Zoom author visit 😍. I love Aiden Thomas! They‘ve just finished two more books and will be at their first in-person author event at Bridgeport Barnes & Noble (Tigard) at the beginning of November.
They also shared they come up with the main character first, and then plot (but doesn‘t recommend it).
And they‘re a big Disney fan. And likes hiding Easter eggs in their books.
Our Teen‘s Librarian killed the interview too!
#haunted 🪦 Graveyard
A cemetery and graveyard are basically the same, right? Read this book last month and loved it!
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Just thought I'd share this fun photo I used for an Instagram photo contest from Rainbow Crate Book Box! I absolutely love this book 🥰
pickA trans boy in LA must prove he is a brujo so his family will accept him. But when he attempts to help a ghost, he accidentally helps the wrong one - and now said ghost, who happens to be the Cute Bad Boy from school - won‘t leave.
1)Favorite read of 2021 so far: Cemetery Boys
2)I haven't found a good spot yet to read outside, for right now it's indoors for me
3)Not at the moment
#ThoughtfulThursday @MoonWitch94
pickI feel so complete after finishing this book. I was hesitant at first with the slowness of the story, but as I kept reading I got hooked into the homey sensations of East LA and Latinx culture, loved Yadriel and Julian's blooming relationship, adored how Adien Thomas made Julian and Yadriel feel so alive and rounded. I was starting ball a little bit at the end. I loved the journey and emotional experience I had with this book.
"Hey I'm not hatimg," Maritza said, at least having the decency to keep her voice down. "I mean, having a ghost boyfriend might be kinda hot." Her knowing smile was obnoxious.
When Yadriel walked back out, Julian was leaning against the wall, still looking far too amused.
"You're not covering your ears." Yadriel glared. "And I didn't hesr you singing."
"My singing voice is too sexy," Julian said with a solemn shake of his head. "You'd fall in love with me, lile, immediately."
Yadriel held his breath. His fingers knotted into the blanket under him. A thrill tickled down his spine to the tips of his toes. It was disorienting, filling his head with dangerous thoughts. He wanted to feel Julian's hands ghosting over his skin. Wondered what Julian's short or if his lips felt as soft as they looked.
Yadriel rolled his eyes and scoffed. "What? Because you're some kind of mujeriego, or something? Too many ladies to pick just one?" he asked with a flare of annoyance.
"No." Julian's tone was cross, eyes still on the page. "Because I'm gay, asshole."
Yadriel blinked. He hadn't expected that.
Hit page 120 in Cemetery Boys! Takes a little bit of time to warm up to Julian Diaz--he's so gruff, hot-headed and rude at times (reminds me of Guts from Berserk). And the scenes with food being prepared for Dia de Muertos makes me mouth water.
Julian didn't respond for a moment. His attention flickered to Diego's and Andres' portajes before he eyed the brujos, an unimpressed look on his face. Finally, he jerked his chin up in that nod guys always did to greet each other.
He squeezed the necklace in his hand, trying to come up with a better reason to leave Julian in the old church than not wanting to hide a hot boy in his room.
A hot dead boy.
Yadriel goraned. Of course the first spirit he suommoned wouldn't be released willingly. No, he had to get stuck with one that had an attitude problem.
30 pages in so far into Cemetery Boys, and I am: intrigued, laughing, crying, grinding my teeth, rolling my eyes (at Diego), rooting for Yadriel, and more
