Book Review: "Cemetery Boys"(2020) by Aiden Thomas

“No, it wasn't the end. It was a better beginning.”

Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal, LGBTQ+
Rating: 4/5
I just finished reading Cemetery Boys and it was a pleasant surprise. It should not be a surprise given the hype behind it, but it is the very hype that made me skeptical about the chances of me liking the book, or expecting too much and ending up disappointed. The characters also act their age!

The story opens in the middle of an action, successfully capturing the interest of the reader, which is maintained by the progress of plot, and even more by its winning characters and occasional humor. It is tale of transition and growth, together with adventure, mystery, and romance added to the mix.   

We follow Yadriel, a trans boy, as he tries to prove that he is a brujo to his family and community. Even though his gender identity and sexuality is accepted by most of the members of his traditional Latinx family, he still faces some inequality of treatment within his community, and is therefore not given the chance to perform the rite of passage to becoming a brujo (since, traditionally, it is boys that become brujos). As a result of this, we meet Yadriel as he breaks into the church with Maritza, his cousin and best friend, to perform the rite by himself before Lady Death. 

The ritual, if completed successfully and accepted by Lady Death, will grant one the ability to summon the spirits of the dead and release them to afterlife. The magic system is explained as the story unfolds. 

An unexpected misfortune occurs and Yadriel ends up summoning the spirit of the school "bad boy", Julian Diaz, and gets up tangled in his unfinished business, at the same time trying to find some kind of clue about the death of his cousin Miguel. The story progress by situating and giving definition to its characters and explores the difficulties faced by a trans-gay teenager within a conservative setup in a very realistic (without considering the fantasy element, of course) and judicial manner, which is one of its strengths - a right step towards queer representation.

The book remains faithful to its readers, and is recommended if you enjoy a  young adult fantasy with a contemporary world setup, which is relatively low on drama (just the right amount, I think). 

Overall, it was an enjoyable and easy read without too much emotional upheavals, and has a steady and absorbing pacing.