“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?”
― Aiden Thomas, Cemetery Boys

If you are interested in ghosts, witches, and folklore, try Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. (Bonus points if you’re also a fan of the sci-fi/fantasy genre and diverse voices.) Cemetery Boys is a perfect October read for Halloween and Day of the Dead vibes. This book lured me in with the characters and the cover, but the mix of mystery and magic had me coming back for more.

Yadriel is a 16-year-old Latinx trans boy looking for his place in his Latinx community. He is determined to prove that he’s a brujo. The men in his community release lost spirits to the afterlife, while the women have the ability to heal bodies and souls. With his family unwilling to let Yadriel have his quinces and perform the initiation rite to become a brujo, Yadriel, with the help of his cousin Maritza, performs the ritual himself. With Lady Death’s recognition, he decides that he is going to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set him free, thus proving he is a brujo.

The problem: the ghost Yadriel summons is not his cousin, instead it is the spirit of his high school’s bad boy. Julian Diaz is not convinced he’s dead, so he is not going to sit aside and let Yadriel send him away. Julian is going to find out what happened to him and tie up some loose ends while he’s at it. Yadriel, Maritza, and Julian form an unlikely team working together to solve each other’s problems. All three have to endure more than they thought, but their friendship helps them each pull through.

“Growth isn’t a deviation from what we’ve done before, but a natural progression to honor all those who make this community strong.”
― Aiden Thomas, Cemetery Boys

Cemetery Boys series

• Cemetery Boys (2020)
• Espiritu (2026)