Aiden Thomas

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Aiden Thomas with their books
Cemetery Boys and The Sunbearer Trials
     Aiden Thomas is a trans, Latinx novelist from Oakland, California. They received their Masters degree in Creative Writing from Mills College, and have released 3 books since 2020, including Cemetery Boys, Lost in the Never Woods, and The Sunbearer Trials. (5) Thomas's identity clearly plays a part in his work, and he hopes that his books can be a source of comfort for trans teens. In a promotional Q&A for Cemetery Boys, Thomas says, "I want readers to find connection and feel seen, because isolation can be a killer...Sometimes our sense of connection to people has nothing to do with proximity." (3)

    Thomas's debut novel Cemetery Boys follows Yadriel, a gay, trans teenager whose traditional family and community refuse to grant him the title of brujo, and with it his birthright power to guide spirits and heal the living. When Yadriel's cousin disappears, he sees a chance to prove himself, and performs the brujo rites. But instead of his cousin, Yadriel accidently summons the spirit of Julian, a classmate with unfinished business. (2,4)

    Cemetery Boys was met with reviews singing its praises, and I found it genuinely difficult to find anything negative. Although Publishers Weekly calls the book predictable, saying, "the puzzles that Yadriel unravels can be guessed," they finish out their review with, "The emotional journey is worth every step." (2) Kirkus Reviews calls the book "heart-pounding," praising its diversity, and Entertainment Weekly lauds the novel for breaking down barriers. (1,4)

    If I'm being honest, I have to agree with the positive reviews Cemetery Boys has received. I've read the book several times, and every time is just as good as (if not better than) the last. Thomas is a fantastic writer, and I greatly enjoyed learning more about them.


  1.     Canfield, David. “This Groundbreaking (and Paranormal) Ya Novel Explores Trans Latinx Identity.” EW.Com, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Nov. 2019, ew.com/books/2019/11/01/cemetery-boys-preview-cover/?utm_campaign=social-share-article&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_term=6548688.
  2.     “Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas.” Publishers Weekly, www.publishersweekly.com/9781250250469. Accessed Mar. 2024.
  3.     “Cemetery Boys by Thomas, Aiden.” Amazon.Com, www.amazon.com/Cemetery-Boys-Aiden-Thomas/dp/1250250463. Accessed Mar. 2024.
  4.     “Cemetery Boys.” Kirkus Reviews, 2020, www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/aiden-thomas/cemetery-boys/.
  5.     “Meet Aiden.” Aiden Thomas, www.aiden-thomas.com/aiden. Accessed Mar. 2024.

Comments

  1. Grace GMarch 21, 2024 at 4:57 PM

    You clearly love Thomas' writing if you've read their book multiple times. I have heard of "Cemetery Boys" before, and after reading this, I will definitely be checking it out. I think the thing that interests me most is that Yadriel's identity is obviously a major factor in the story, but the story does not appear to be about his identity. I find that I enjoy novels like this because they show that queer people have other things going on in their lives that aren't just about being queer.

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  2. Emma BeilmanMarch 21, 2024 at 7:56 PM

    I've definitely heard of "Cemetery Boys" before! Based on your description and the reviews you included, I will absolutely be adding it to my TBR list. I also love that Thomas talked about their hopes that readers will connect with their stories and feel seen and understood. It's such an important concept.

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