Status
Available
Call number
Publication
HarperTeen (First Edition)
Pages
273
Description
"When Stephen moves to the small, midwestern town where his father grew up, he quickly falls in with punk girl Cara and her charismatic twin brother, Devon. But the town has a dark secret, and the twins are caught in the middle of it"--
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2015-03-01
Physical description
273 p.; 8.5 inches
ISBN
9780062307880
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member kissedbyink
Heather Brewer did it again! I absolutely LOVED this book! The beautiful descriptions made me feel like I was right in the story, trying to figure out who was going to die next...but I won't say anymore and give anything away. Just know this is a MUST read for horror fans!
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
The Cemetery Boys by Heather Brewer has two things going for it. First of all, Spencer is one creepy small town. It starts with the unfriendly welcome by his grandmother and only grows as Stephen explores his new hometown. Second, Devon is even creepier. Friendly one minute, intimidating the next,
Ms. Brewer does an excellent job recreating the mindset of a teenage boy. Stephen is utterly believable in his lust for Cara and longing for his mother. He is just like everyone else that age – torn between needing independence and the need for the comfort and safety provided by his parents in his childhood. There is the need to fit in and the need to be true to oneself. The messiness of Stephen’s emotions and thoughts mirror those of every other teenager in the world.
Unfortunately, that’s about where it ends. The story itself, while mysterious, is overly simplistic. The big reveal towards the end is not surprising, nor is there much in the way of character or setting development. There is just enough of a hint of the otherworldly to entice Ms. Brewer’s fans, but hints are all there are. One can easily explain everything without delving into the supernatural. In The Cemetery Boys, as is so often the case, the danger humans pose to each other is more frightening than anything else.
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he keeps Stephen and the reader on their toes.Ms. Brewer does an excellent job recreating the mindset of a teenage boy. Stephen is utterly believable in his lust for Cara and longing for his mother. He is just like everyone else that age – torn between needing independence and the need for the comfort and safety provided by his parents in his childhood. There is the need to fit in and the need to be true to oneself. The messiness of Stephen’s emotions and thoughts mirror those of every other teenager in the world.
Unfortunately, that’s about where it ends. The story itself, while mysterious, is overly simplistic. The big reveal towards the end is not surprising, nor is there much in the way of character or setting development. There is just enough of a hint of the otherworldly to entice Ms. Brewer’s fans, but hints are all there are. One can easily explain everything without delving into the supernatural. In The Cemetery Boys, as is so often the case, the danger humans pose to each other is more frightening than anything else.
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LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: How far would you go for what you believed?
Opening Sentence: We’d left my old house as if we were stealing away in the night.
The Review:
The prologue ruined this story for me. It could have been sooo awesome if I hadn’t read that little snippet
Stephen has a hard time fitting into Spencer, a small town in the middle of nowhere, especially since his father didn’t have a great reputation before leaving and he’s living with his grandmother who hates them both. After making friends with a group of mysterious boys, he soon realises that most everyone in Spencer believes in the creepy legend of the Winged Ones. The problem is that the legend is surrounded by death…
“…You guys do this a lot?”
“Some.” He shrugged and then shook his head. “You don’t have to.”
Oh, sure. I didn’t have to drink liquor in the cemetery. Just like I didn’t have to break into the movie theater. Just like I didn’t have to go with Devon in the first place. There was always option B: puss out and go home. Of course I had to. Who did Scot think he was kidding?
It’s clear from the start of the story (and the stupid prologue) that Devon and his gang are dangerous and they share a strong belief in the Winged Ones, but it’s unclear how far they will go in furthering that belief. I know I shouldn’t but I really liked Devon and I hoped so much that he wasn’t the sadistic villain he was being portrayed as. There was immense potential for him to change his ways but alas, every story needs a bad guy (or two!)
“You’re full of sh*t.” I was pretty sure he wasn’t, but what did I know? Too little, I feared.
“So’s the world, Stephen. It’s also full of monsters with friendly faces.”
I shrugged. “Yeah, well. You’re still full of sh*t.”
Stephen’s grandmother is rather odd. She might have been more likeable if she wasn’t such a bitter old hag. She hates Stephen’s father for leaving the town of Spencer and hates Stephen by association but that still doesn’t fully explain the reason for such dislike? Plus, I could not understand why she made them both work like animals from the moment of their arrival, was it a punishment or just to show them who was boss?
Standing, I offered her a nod. It was the closest thing to affection that I could freely give the old bat. “You know something, Grandma? You’re all right.”
Snorting, she put her attention on her work, disregarding me completely. It was back to business. “Of course I am.”
Of course she was. She was all right. All right in her bitterness. All right in her hatred. But mostly, all right in her honesty. And maybe that was okay.
The storyline was good, the writing was sinister and overall it would have been a brilliant dark read, if it wasn’t for the spoilerish prologue!
Notable Scene:
I might not believe in the Winged Ones, but the boys clearly did. And belief was a funny thing. It made people do things that theories and ideas couldn’t. Beliefs made people associate with certain people or not. Beliefs made people give money to certain causes or avoid them altogether. Beliefs made people sacrifice, be it luxuries or lives. Ideas could be changed. Theories could be modified. But beliefs were hard-core. They were solid. They were something that the believers took very, very seriously. And the notion that Devon, Markus, and the others believed in something I expected to encounter only on late-night TV scared the hell out of me. Not because the monsters might exist – really. But because my friends might be on their side.
FTC Advisory: HarperTeen provided me with a copy of The Cemetery Boys. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: How far would you go for what you believed?
Opening Sentence: We’d left my old house as if we were stealing away in the night.
The Review:
The prologue ruined this story for me. It could have been sooo awesome if I hadn’t read that little snippet
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at the start of the book. It was like a spoiler that was not required – so infuriating! Otherwise, the Cemetery Boys was a thrilling read. It’s dark, morbid and the perfect story for Friday 13th.Stephen has a hard time fitting into Spencer, a small town in the middle of nowhere, especially since his father didn’t have a great reputation before leaving and he’s living with his grandmother who hates them both. After making friends with a group of mysterious boys, he soon realises that most everyone in Spencer believes in the creepy legend of the Winged Ones. The problem is that the legend is surrounded by death…
“…You guys do this a lot?”
“Some.” He shrugged and then shook his head. “You don’t have to.”
Oh, sure. I didn’t have to drink liquor in the cemetery. Just like I didn’t have to break into the movie theater. Just like I didn’t have to go with Devon in the first place. There was always option B: puss out and go home. Of course I had to. Who did Scot think he was kidding?
It’s clear from the start of the story (and the stupid prologue) that Devon and his gang are dangerous and they share a strong belief in the Winged Ones, but it’s unclear how far they will go in furthering that belief. I know I shouldn’t but I really liked Devon and I hoped so much that he wasn’t the sadistic villain he was being portrayed as. There was immense potential for him to change his ways but alas, every story needs a bad guy (or two!)
“You’re full of sh*t.” I was pretty sure he wasn’t, but what did I know? Too little, I feared.
“So’s the world, Stephen. It’s also full of monsters with friendly faces.”
I shrugged. “Yeah, well. You’re still full of sh*t.”
Stephen’s grandmother is rather odd. She might have been more likeable if she wasn’t such a bitter old hag. She hates Stephen’s father for leaving the town of Spencer and hates Stephen by association but that still doesn’t fully explain the reason for such dislike? Plus, I could not understand why she made them both work like animals from the moment of their arrival, was it a punishment or just to show them who was boss?
Standing, I offered her a nod. It was the closest thing to affection that I could freely give the old bat. “You know something, Grandma? You’re all right.”
Snorting, she put her attention on her work, disregarding me completely. It was back to business. “Of course I am.”
Of course she was. She was all right. All right in her bitterness. All right in her hatred. But mostly, all right in her honesty. And maybe that was okay.
The storyline was good, the writing was sinister and overall it would have been a brilliant dark read, if it wasn’t for the spoilerish prologue!
Notable Scene:
I might not believe in the Winged Ones, but the boys clearly did. And belief was a funny thing. It made people do things that theories and ideas couldn’t. Beliefs made people associate with certain people or not. Beliefs made people give money to certain causes or avoid them altogether. Beliefs made people sacrifice, be it luxuries or lives. Ideas could be changed. Theories could be modified. But beliefs were hard-core. They were solid. They were something that the believers took very, very seriously. And the notion that Devon, Markus, and the others believed in something I expected to encounter only on late-night TV scared the hell out of me. Not because the monsters might exist – really. But because my friends might be on their side.
FTC Advisory: HarperTeen provided me with a copy of The Cemetery Boys. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member KWadyko
The more I think about this book the more I realize I didn't like it. There was so much potential to make this book MORE, but it was never capitalized. The title doesn’t even mesh with what was going on in the book…not once were the boys referred to as such. The cemetery was most often referred
There was SO much left unfulfilled…the mom’s predicament, what ends up ultimately happening to the main character, what was really going on with the creatures, how “The Cemetery Boys” got an in with the creatures, etc.
I like Brewer’s Vladimir Todd series, but was sorely disappointed in this book.
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to as the playground…There was SO much left unfulfilled…the mom’s predicament, what ends up ultimately happening to the main character, what was really going on with the creatures, how “The Cemetery Boys” got an in with the creatures, etc.
I like Brewer’s Vladimir Todd series, but was sorely disappointed in this book.
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LibraryThing member aurorapaigem
This was an interesting book for those that like small town mysteries. I can see why this book ends up on so many different book lists because there are a lot of topics covered in this story. I've tried to tag the major ones.
I think this would be a great book for the new kid in town to read. It
The audiobook was well done by the same man who reads the Miss Peregrine series. He particular reading style works well with this novel.
I think this would be a great book for the new kid in town to read. It
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would sure make them feel like their town isn't so bad! It's also a decent father/son book, though not one of my top picks. The audiobook was well done by the same man who reads the Miss Peregrine series. He particular reading style works well with this novel.
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LibraryThing member MontzaleeW
The Cemetery Boys by Heather Brewer is an audible book I borrowed from the library and it was a strange but good story. A boy and his dad move into a town with his grandmother. They leave his mother in a mental hospital because she seems insane but is she? You start to wonder as the story goes on.
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The boy of the story wants to fit in with the few kids in town. The boys seem normal, the girl that is one of the boys sister seems normal too but something is not right and you just can't put your finger on it. It is a horror/coming of age story. A strange story but worth the read. The narration was good too. Show Less
LibraryThing member snickel63
It was an interesting storyline but I absolutely disliked Devon and Cara as soon as they came into the story. Stephen has such a rough life and I wish he got a happily ever after in some way. Quick short read but enjoyable.
LibraryThing member brittaniethekid
Couldn't finish. I got through the first few chapters and Stephen, the main character, was obnoxious to the point where I just didn't care. This is definitely a book for younger adults or juveniles.
The prologue was promising and seemed like something I'd really enjoy, but the writing wasn't that
The prologue was promising and seemed like something I'd really enjoy, but the writing wasn't that
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well done (though this is an early digital ARC so that could change in the final edition after editor comb-through) and the character's observations and feelings were of a spoiled child. Just not for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member Briars_Reviews
Z Brewer has always been one of my faves. Back in my high school days I binged Vladimir Todd over and over. I distinctly remember going to Borders (RIP Borders) and requesting a great YA read that would keep me hooked. They presented me with Vladimir Todd and instantly I was in love. Z Brewer's
This book is spooky and intense, but in a good way. Stephen is forced to move when his Mother is hospitalized due to mental illness. His Father decides it's a grand idea to move back to the creepy small town he used to live in and move in with his Mother. The Grandmother? A bit weird and scary, let's be honest. So, Stephen moves to this tiny town with creepy lore and thinks he finds some friend. The Cemetery Boys basically describes these buddies he hangs out with (they go to The Playground a.k.a. the local cemetery). We learn there are rumours and myths about the town and many deaths that have occurred there. While Stephen tries to cope with being new in town, liking a girl and trying to fit in, dark mischief occurs... And Stephen will never be the same.
SO SPOOKY. This helped get me into the Halloween spirit, even if that wasn't its intention. I did think the middle half of the book was kind of slow and I would have liked to see the lore come out sooner, but that's a personal preference. The story goes har and fast suddenly when the action starts.
This book is twisted, and if you're an avid reader like me you'll probably figure out the ending early on. Otherwise, it's a great book! I can see why some readers love it and others don't. As a big fan of Z's writing, I was all in. I enjoyed it and stayed along for the right. Maybe this is another one of those niche books? You'll love the ending or you'll want to whip the book across the room. Or both.
Four out of five stars.
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writing has always done it for me, and this book was no different.This book is spooky and intense, but in a good way. Stephen is forced to move when his Mother is hospitalized due to mental illness. His Father decides it's a grand idea to move back to the creepy small town he used to live in and move in with his Mother. The Grandmother? A bit weird and scary, let's be honest. So, Stephen moves to this tiny town with creepy lore and thinks he finds some friend. The Cemetery Boys basically describes these buddies he hangs out with (they go to The Playground a.k.a. the local cemetery). We learn there are rumours and myths about the town and many deaths that have occurred there. While Stephen tries to cope with being new in town, liking a girl and trying to fit in, dark mischief occurs... And Stephen will never be the same.
SO SPOOKY. This helped get me into the Halloween spirit, even if that wasn't its intention. I did think the middle half of the book was kind of slow and I would have liked to see the lore come out sooner, but that's a personal preference. The story goes har and fast suddenly when the action starts.
This book is twisted, and if you're an avid reader like me you'll probably figure out the ending early on. Otherwise, it's a great book! I can see why some readers love it and others don't. As a big fan of Z's writing, I was all in. I enjoyed it and stayed along for the right. Maybe this is another one of those niche books? You'll love the ending or you'll want to whip the book across the room. Or both.
Four out of five stars.
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Call number
YA B Bre