Cemetery Boys--"On the bright side, he had actually summoned a real-life spirit. On the not-so-bright side, he had summoned the wrong one."

Title: Cemetery Boys

Author: Aiden Thomas


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main character is trans and gay; supporting character is gay


Content Warning: Violence, unsupportive family members


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Transgender Yadriel wants to prove he is a real brujo, even though his family has not recognized his true gender. Along with his best friend Maritza, Yadriel performs his own quinces ritual and attempts to set the spirit of his murdered cousin free. However, Yadriel accidentally summons the spirit of (adorable!) Julian and is thrown into a murder mystery. Will Yadriel's family accept him as a true brujo, and will Julian's spirit find peace?


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): Cemetery Boys is a more light-hearted, less angsty read than I expected. Yadriel and Martiza are extremely adorable (and relatable) and Julian is so easy to fall for. 

Another Post in which I don't @ the authors: Books that just didn't do it for me

I read a lot of books, which means I have a huge pile of LGBTQ+-themed YA books that I've read but haven't blogged about. Some I was not impressed with; some I just could not finish; some just did not "spark joy" enough to make me want to discuss/review/write about them. 

As an attempt to whittle down my pile, here is my post about "Books that just didn't do it for me" (including links to more detailed reviews). Do not let any of my opinions stop you from reading these books! But feel free to commiserate if you also had some issues with them. 😁

Also, I take guest review submissions! Email me, send me a Facebook message, or Tweet me if you are interested. You'll find my contact information on the homepage to your right.

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I'm starting with a trilogy I really wanted to like:

Titles: The Folk of the Air Series (The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, and The Queen of Nothing)

Camp-- "I don't mind the masc-only thing, but if you can't enjoy a drag queen, you're probably a soulless monster"

Title: Camp
    

Author: L.C. Rosen


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main characters are gay, and everything across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum is included


Content Warning: The f-word that rhymes with "bag it" is used as a pejorative

   
What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): In order to get adorable Hudson to fall in love with him, Randy makes himself over as Del, a masculine, short-haired jock. For a while, it seems that his plan is working, and Del and Hudson become the "it" couple at camp, even though Del is depressed to have ditched the annual musical for sports. But how long can Del keep up his facade, and will Hudson love Randy as much as he loves Del?


What I think: I was a Girl Scout Camp counselor for five summers, and I think working at Camp Outland (or its real-life counterpart) would be AWESOME. What a great place it would be! And a musical every year? My high school self would have been SO THERE. And my grown-up self would love to direct and watch a gender-bending, queer version of Bye Bye Birdie. So much fun! I was so asexual in high school and college that I know I would not have had the great summer romance, but the theatre would have been 😍😍😍 for me.

The Lost Book of the White--"I guess I assumed you came to taunt us and lecture us"

Title: The Lost Book of the White (Eldest Curses Book Two)

Authors: Wesley Chu and Cassandra Clare

LGBTQ+ Representation: Main characters are gay and bisexual 


What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): An old enemy (and not-dead friend) returns to torment Alec and Magnus again, this time stabbing Magnus with a magical thorn, which, if not fixed in time, will make Magnus a servant to the demon Sammael. With the help of their friends, Alec and Magnus venture into hell to save the day. But can their warlock son, Max, survive an extended visit with his grandma without accidentally burning down the institute with his out-of-control magic?


What I think (in 250 words or fewer): I was looking forward to reading this Eldest Curses book even more than Red Scrolls because of the timeline in which it was set, which is after Mortal Instruments but before Dark Artifices. Alec and Magnus are new parents and are deliriously happy and kissy. And Max excitedly and accidentally sets fires with his cute, baby warlock magic.

Boy Erased--"I wish none of his had ever happened. Sometimes I thank God it did."

Title: Boy Erased: A Memoir

Author: Garrard Conley


LGBTQ+ Representation: Main character and several secondary characters are gay

Content Warning: Conversion therapy, suicidal thoughts, depression

What it’s about (in 75 words or fewer): Garrard is sexually assaulted and outed as gay to his conservative religious parents when he is in his freshman year of college. His parents send him to Love in Action, a now-defunct conversion "reparative" therapy center in order to "cure" Garrard of his "sin of same-sex attraction" so he would become heterosexual. Garrard's stay at Love in Action is extremely psychologically damaging.


What I think: This post has been in my drafts folder longer than anything I have ever written--I read Boy Erased over two years ago, around the time I first started blogging, and it affected me profoundly. The book--well, I am going to quote myself from Ziggy, Stardust & Me:

I used to be able to read about topics of sickness and child death, but having kids seems to have wired my brain differently; now I get upset to the point of panic attacks when reading or watching children suffering (It's embarrassing. During one memorable incident at a teacher in-service I left the room sobbing after watching a PSA about children getting injured in a meth lab explosion).

I realize that Conley is over 18 even during the events in the book, but I could not help but imagine my trans child in conversion therapy, being told that something is very wrong with him, and my heart just breaks for every single person who has had to undergo that.