Cemetery Boys

"But belonging meant denying who he was. Living as something he wasn't had nearly torn him apart from the inside out. But he also loved his family, and his community. It was bad enough being an outsider; what would happen if they just couldn't--or wouldn't--accept him for who he was?"

- Yadriel, Cemetery Boys.

When I came across this book last year, I thought this was just going to be a spooky story. How wrong was I! This book is so much more than that. And without a doubt, I've fallen in love with every aspect of it. The author, Aiden Thomas has weaved a brilliant story with beautiful characters. This book was hyped very much all over the bookstagram and rightfully so, it deserved every bit of that hype.

This week's pride readathon's pick is to read books that have trans representation. I'm so glad that I got to read this perfection.

Yadriel, a sixteen-year-old trans guy who belongs to a traditional Latinx family, wants to prove to his family as well as his community that he is a bruja. With the help of his best friend/ cousin Maritza he performs the ritual himself and then summons a ghost. When the ghost turns out to be Julian Diaz, a boy from his school, things start to get a little interesting. He makes a deal with Julian about finding the cause of his mysterious death which is also tied with Yadriel's cousin's death.

The author has created a wonderful story that's interwoven with Latinx culture. The book oozes with cultural references. Needless to say, my ignorant self has learned a lot because of this book.

"You know who you are, I know who you are, and our Lady does, too." She said with fierce conviction. "So screw the rest of them!" Maritza grinned at him. "Remember why we're doing this."

Yadriel's eagerness for approval from his family and community toward his gender, his dynamic with his community is very interesting to read. It's like they acknowledge his gender but don't know how to work with it. The struggle he goes through to get approved as a bruja is so heartbreaking.

Maritza as a supporting character was so wonderful. Her aversion towards sticking to the norms and following them was a delight to read. Coming to Julian- I don't have words for his absolute chaotic character. None can describe him better than Yadriel. You'd know it when you read the book.

The pace of the story and the writing was quite easy to follow. I guessed the obvious plot twist before it could happen but it could also be because the author wanted us to know. The air of mystery that's maintained throughout the book makes it hard to put down.