Cemetery Boys

Julian Diaz—or Jules to his friends—is the second protagonist of the novel and Yadriel’s friend and love interest. Before his death, Julian is “sixteen minus a couple weeks” old (169) and goes to the same high school as Yadriel, though he often cuts class. Yadriel describes Julian as “hard to miss, attractive in a severe sort of way with that diamond-shaped face. He had a narrow, stubborn chin and a sharp voice that always seemed to cut through every other one in the quad” (48). Julian’s physical appearance matches his personality; he “was loud, rarely took things seriously, and was known for getting into trouble” (48). There are many rumors in school about Julian being part of a gang and coming from a family of drug dealers. In actuality, Julian’s mother left his family when he was a baby and his father passed away tragically as a bystander in a drive by shooting. Julian only has his older brother Rio and a close-knit group of friends that he loves fiercely: Flaca, Rocky, Luca, and Omar. Julian’s chosen family protect each other and frequently live together at Rio and Julian’s tiny one-bedroom apartment.

Julian Diaz is outgoing, fiercely protective, and bright—“Even as a spirit, he was bright and full of constantly moving energy. A sun crammed into the body of a boy” (199). Julian is deeply concerned about others; even after discovering that he has died, all that Julian cares about is ensuring that his friends are safe. Over the course of the novel, Yadriel begins to see Julian for who he really is—someone who “cared about the people who were important to him. […] Julian would die for his friends. He probably had” (138). The ferocity of Julian’s selflessness and kindness is one of the reasons that Yadriel falls in love with him.

At the end of the novel, with Yadriel’s help and intervention, Julian is resurrected from the dead. In getting closer to Yadriel, Julian has learned how to talk about his feelings and open up about his difficult family circumstances and his past. This lack of communication had been an obstacle in his relationship with his brother, Rio, and something that he now knows how to overcome. 

Maritza is Yadriel’s best friend and his number one supporter. She is 15, has “short thick hair” with “Pastel-pink and -purple curls framed her heart-shaped face, popping against her deep brown skin” (9). Like Yadriel, Maritza is also an outlier in the community—“as the only vegan brujx” (16), she refuses to use animal blood in her magic. Against the wishes of her family and the history of the brujas, Maritza “decided she wanted no part of healing if it meant harming another living creature” (16).

Instead of healing, Maritza forges portaje daggers for the other brujx, “a trade her father had brought over from Haiti. She had a keen interest in learning how to craft blades from him” (14). However, her mother thinks that forging weapons are not “a proper career choice for a girl” (14). Maritza holds onto her strong beliefs even when Yadriel is critically injured at the end of the novel. Using the spilled human blood to successfully heal him, she confronts the deity Lady Death, shouting, “And I did it without animal blood, bitch” (271). Having saved Yadriel’s life while also staying true to her beliefs, Maritza epitomizes what it means to know and trust in herself and her abilities.

Catriz is the novel’s primary antagonist, a thin man who “wore his long black hair looped into a knot at the base of his neck. He had high cheekbones and a hooked nose. Traditional, flared plugs made of jade and the size of a quarter adorned his earlobes” (26). Catriz is the older brother of Enrique, Yadriel’s father, which would have made him the leader of the brujx except Catriz was born without any powers. As a result, “The brujos treated Yadriel and Catriz the same. Neither had been given their quinces, nor been presented at the aquelarre during Día de Muertos” (34). Catriz’s low standing engenders hatred and a desire for vengeance. At the same time, Catriz is kind to Yadriel, and is often the only person who can sympathize with his feelings of isolation. Numerous times during the text, Catriz tries to convince Enrique to accept Yadriel, and keeps Yadriel’s secrets.

Catriz’s resentment eventually becomes toxic, twisted by the evil of Bahlam and the promise of power. Assuming that Yadriel must feel the same way, Catriz attempts to convince Yadriel to join him in making “the living brujx […] face the consequences of their actions. I will show them what a grave mistake they’ve made, and I will show them no mercy” (255). Catriz’s desire for vengeance grows stronger when he realizes that Enrique has accepted Yadriel, but Catriz’s desire for power ultimately results in Bahlam dragging him into the depths of Xibalba. 

Enrique is Yadriel’s father and the “leader of the brujx families” (8). He is tall, with “a bit of a gut [and a] modest haircut and bushy mustache” (24). Enrique’s portaje matches his physical appearance: “a hunting knife, much larger and more severe than Yadriel’s, but still understated compared to the style of the young brujos’ portajes” (27). Enrique is severe but kind. He takes his leadership duties seriously, and “was well respected and looked up to” by the brujx community (24). Enrique loves his children dearly, but he fears that Yadriel will not be accepted by Lady Death as a brujo. As a result, he refuses to let his son take part in a brujo quinces.

Enrique misgenders and uses Yadriel’s deadname during the novel. He is immediately regretful and eventually apologizes to his son, admitting, “I’m still learning. Your mamá was better at this. And without her here—” (119). Eager to please his father, Yadriel forgives him over and over for his mistakes. To Enrique’s credit, when he learns that Lady Death has blessed Yadriel as a brujo, Enrique immediately apologizes, publicly admitting his failure. He says to the brujx community, “I failed my son, Yadriel, as both a father and a leader,” and resolves to lead the brujx into a more inclusive era (290). 

Lita is Yadriel’s grandmother and the spiritual leader of the brujx community. Yadriel describes her:

Lita was a squat woman, even shorter than him but with a presence that made the cockiest brujo shrink back when she scolded. She always smelled like Royal Violets, which lingered on Yadriel’s clothes long after she released him from a back-popping hug. She had a strong, trilling Cuban accent and an even stronger personality (35).

Throughout the novel, Lita is frequently depicted healing, feeding, cooking, and caring for Yadriel and other members of the brujx community. Despite her caring nature, Lita misgenders Yadriel and uses his deadname. When Yadriel insists on her using his real name, Lita is both surprised and proud of him for standing up for himself. At the end of the novel, she presides over Yadriel’s aquelarre and accepts him as a brujo and as her grandson.

Rodrigo, otherwise known as Rio, is Julian’s older brother and guardian. Rio is “tall and broad,” with “the same nose and heavy brow” as Julian (187). On the outside, Rio looks extremely gruff, wearing “navy coveralls with the top portion pulled down, the sleeves knotted around his waist,” with a “large black-and-white tattoo of Santa Muerte” (187) on his arm. Rio used to be a part of a gang but has now become the patriarch of Julian’s ragtag group. Rio is a natural caregiver: He always lets the teenagers sleep at the small apartment he shares with Julian and “Doesn’t even ask questions, just drags another blanket out of the closet” (165). When Omar’s parents are deported, Rio took the teen in. Despite being exhausted, he immediately gives Luca something to eat when the group comes to talk to him about Julian. At the end of the novel, Rio is worried but relieved to hear that Julian is safe and that he did not run away on his own.. 

Flaca is “the first openly trans person Yadriel had ever met” and the person who inspired Yadriel to come out (128). Yadriel remembers how Flaca was once sent to the principal’s office for wearing a skirt, and how she had walked out with her head held high. Yadriel thinks the world of her; “It was seeing Flaca, her fearlessness, that encouraged Yadriel to wear a binder to school for the first time” (129). Before the novel begins, Flaca dropped out of school because her parents kicked her out of the house; she is now part of Julian’s group.