"Do it anyways." - Julian Diaz
First Impressions
This book really pulled on my heartstrings. I was very much in love with the story in this book. I loved getting to know more about the Dia de Muertos. Even though the culture in this book is fantasized a lot, the basis of it felt (and is) rooted in reality. The whole of the brujo/bruja aspect was very well thought out and made it very easy to plop in a identity crisis. Not that there is any identity in question here. The main character, Yadriel, is a transgender boy who just wants his family to see him for who he is. Which is a boy. But his entire culture seems to based on gender specific roles, which makes it harder for the entire family to know what to actually do with him.
This was my first ever time reading from the point of view of a transgender character. I loved how it was written. It wasn't obvious, it wasn't the main focus (even though it was, more on that later) but the author found simple moments to make you think. Like the scene where Yadriel goes to the boy's bathroom for the first time. It's something seemingly small for a person like me. But, reading it from his perspective, I felt all the feelings he did. Anxiety, anticipation and joy when he walked out of there.
The whole relationship between the two boys, Yadriel and Julian, felt very innocent and very sweet. But also very real. They go through a lot throughout the story and you can gradually feel when things start to change. I love how Julian being unapologetic ally himself, helps Yadriel to do the same. They really do bring out the best in eachother, which makes it very easy to root for them.
So, what's the story really about?
When you take away all of the fantasy aspects about the ghosts and the brujo's and bruja's, this story is about something much simpler, but also much larger. It's a story about finding your identity. About not being ashamed of who you are. About believing in yourself, even when other people are having a hard time believing in you. It's about knowing that you are enough just as you are and that there is no need to change or to adjust yourself to the expectations of others.
It's also a story about acceptance. About Yadriel accepting himself. About his family accepting who he really is, regardless of how 'complicated' it might make things. It's also, I believe, about accepting love. Julian clearly has a hard time believing that the people in his life are there because they love him. Not just because they're 'stuck with him'. Accepting yourself and the fact that there are parts of you that are worthy love, means you also have to accept the love that is given to you.
Final thoughts
All in all, I loved whole story. It was very well written and made me want to keep on reading. The reading itself went very quickly as well. Every single character in the book felt fleshed out, making it all the more engaging and fun. The themes in this book are important and universal, even though at first glance, you might not be able to identify with the main character, it becomes apparent very quickly that there is a theme going on here about acceptance, wanting to be accepted, accepting yourself. And that is something that I think all of us have struggled with at one point or another, making it one of the most relatable characters struggles you can get.
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