Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

129 reviews

tjeoconnor's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book was so beautiful and touching. I loved the way it showed the blending of different cultures, and how family is what you make it, not what makes you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Transphobia, and Death of parent

Minor: Xenophobia and Vomit

tallnecked_pancakeface's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, and Outing

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Deportation

naoml's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

"Growth isn't a deviation from what we've done before, but a natural progression to honor all those who make this community strong"

I thought this was very well done. The representation of queerness and transness was not overworked, but beautifully woven into the story, which stands on it's own very well. I thought the world building and family dynamics were really well crafted. Not 5 starts because it felt a tad rushed in a few places

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Deadnaming and Blood

Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Deportation

genevieve5's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Deadnaming, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse

glen3's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Death, Racism, Violence, Murder, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Police brutality, Car accident, Classism, and Deportation

sephiefoxx's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Transphobia, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Deadnaming, Violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death and Child abuse

liketheverb's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Violence

erika_winters's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I’ve never read a book about brujx before or ghosts, so this was a wildly adventurous and engaging story! Yadriel, Maritza, and Julian were the best group of teens to follow in this story as we witness their coming of age in a cemetery and being a part of a huge Latinx family who have magic given to them by their goddess, Lady Death. I thought this story was fresh and new, while also being relatable and heartbreaking. There are so many layers of grief in this story from Yadriel and Julian going through personal losses, while also exploring the idea of Julian dying at such a young age. Aiden Thomas does a great job at constructing the magic system in their book, while also tackling social issues in our own world, such as racism, classicism, and transphobia. The cast of characters were overall lovable and came from all walks of life, and I loved how the setting became its own character; the cemetery in East LA  literally brimming with energy from the spirits that inhabit it, to the general areas in SoCal that make it palpable; like the ocean community of Malibu seen later in the book. Overall, this book is meaningful to those who are queer and have fought to have their identities be seen and heard, and a love letter to the Latinx community with its lush culture and heritage.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Transphobia, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Deportation

bookish_perseus's review against another edition

emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Deportation

Minor: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Deportation

lrose02's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was a read I’d heard amazing things about. And it was amazing. The cultural parts are so rich, and the fantasy parts are so much more believable because of it. I struggled at first as the first 20 pages are very Spanish heavy which is hard trying to read when you don’t speak it but also when you’re tired. The chemistry between the two boys feels natural, in a way that felt right. It didn’t cause me to kick me feet and squeal but it didn’t need to. Yadriel’s trans identity is a plot point but is used in a different way, as its tied to the magic system and whole belief of the community. You’re rooting for the characters the whole way. I started to doubt around 70% through how it’s going to end and if the mystery was ever going to be resolved. But it did and in a way that was completely shocking. What seems just like a lore dump and a cute side character moment is actually important. And you feel the betrayal with Yadriel. The ending is satisfying as you’re rooting for him the whole time and celebrate just as much when he finally gets all he’s been working towards 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Blood

Moderate: Death of parent and Murder

Minor: Child abuse and Deportation