โ๐ฏ๐ฝโฏ๐ ๐โด๐๐๐น๐โ๐ โฏ๐โฏ๐ ๐โฏ๐ ๐ฝ๐พ๐ ๐๐๐. โ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ โฏ๐ถ๐๐พโฏ๐ ๐โด ๐ฝ๐พ๐นโฏ ๐ทโฏ๐ฝ๐พ๐๐น ๐๐ฝโฏ๐พ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐พ๐๐พโด๐๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ ๐โด ๐ธ๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐โฏ๐โโฏ ๐๐ฝโฏ๐พ๐ โด๐๐ ๐ทโฏ๐๐พโฏ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐๐น ๐๐๐นโฏ๐๐๐๐ถ๐๐น๐พ๐โ. ๐ช๐ป ๐ฝโด๐ ๐๐ฝ๐พ๐โ๐ ๐พ๐ ๐๐ฝโฏ ๐โด๐๐๐น โด๐ป ๐๐ฝโฏ ๐ท๐๐๐ฟ๐ ๐โด๐๐โฏ๐น.โ ๐๐พ๐นโฏ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฝโด๐๐ถ๐,ย
๐พ๐๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ค๐ฎ๐จ
Iโd like to thankย @swoonreadsย for the final copy of ๐พ๐๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ค๐ฎ๐จ and theย @hearourvoicestoursย for having me as part of this tour.ย
SYNOPSIS
When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.
However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the schoolโs resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. Heโs determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.
Review:
I enjoyed ๐พ๐๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ค๐ฎ๐จ very much. I loved how Aiden Thomas constructed these characters with care and precision. Every character contributed to the story in a way that gave the story flavor. The main character, Yadriel wanted so badly to have validation from his family that he took risks in order to prove it: that he was a brujo. His sidekick Maritza was there to help provide guidance and gave him the validation that he sought. She believed in him. His mom believed in him and accepted that he was trans. I felt that Aiden covered this distinction well. Yadrielโs Family was very important to him and close. You felt that when his cousin was killed and they were looking for his body. Whenever others referred to him by his dead name, Yads felt it and I felt it. I felt his pain. It was heartbreaking but as Aiden provided a contrast in acceptance, Yads recognized his privilege. I felt Julianโs character provided Yads with purpose and approval. Julianโs story was a heartbreaking one, and we as spectators understood what it means to have others tell our story. Julian is dead, but his love for his friends has shown how mischaracterizations can have an effect on who we are as people. Like I said, I enjoyed this book. I hope you will read it.
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Author Information
Aiden Thomas is a YA author with an MFA in Creative Writing. Originally from Oakland, California, they now make their home in Portland, OR. As a queer, trans, latinx, Aiden advocates strongly for diverse representation in all media. Aidenโs special talents include: quoting The Office, Harry Potter trivia, Jenga, finishing sentences with โis my FAVORITEโ, and killing spiders. Aiden is notorious for not being able to guess the endings of books and movies, and organizes their bookshelves by color.
Their debut novel, CEMETERY BOYS, will be published June 9th, 2020.
DJ Reads Books 