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    The Cemetery Boys
    The Cemetery Boys
    The Cemetery Boys
    Audiobook7 hours

    The Cemetery Boys

    Written by Heather Brewer

    Narrated by Kirby Heyborne

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Part Hitchcock, part Hinton, this first-ever stand-alone novel from Heather Brewer, New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series, uses classic horror elements to tell a darkly funny coming-of-age story about the dangerous power of belief and the cost of blind loyalty that Kirkus Reviews called “a slick, spooky, chilling mystery.”

    When Stephen's dad says they're moving, Stephen knows it's pointless to argue. They're broke from paying Mom's hospital bills, and now the only option left is to live with Stephen's grandmother in Spencer, a backward small town that's like something out of The Twilight Zone. Population: 814.

    Stephen's summer starts looking up when he meets punk girl Cara and her charismatic twin brother, Devon. With Cara, he feels safe and understood—and yeah, okay, she's totally hot. In Devon and his group, he sees a chance at making real friends. Only, as the summer presses on, and harmless nights hanging out in the cemetery take a darker turn, Stephen starts to suspect that Devon is less a friend than a leader. And he might be leading them to a very sinister end. . . .

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateMar 31, 2015
    ISBN9780062346490
    Author

    Heather Brewer

    Z Brewer is the New York Times bestselling author of several books, including the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series, and more short stories than they can recall. Their pronouns are they/them. Z is also an outspoken mental health and antibullying advocate. Plus, they have awesome hair. Z lives in Saint Louis, Missouri, with a husband person, one child person, and three furry overlords that some people refer to as “cats.” Visit Z online at zbrewerbooks.com.

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    Reviews for The Cemetery Boys

    3.5/5

    27 ratings10 reviews

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    • 1/5
      story goes no where! the ending is horrible! the narrator is awful with weird tone ugh!

      2 people found this helpful

    • 3/5
      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 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.
    • 1/5
      DNF @ 48%

      I'm not the target audience for this book. I spent 80 pages feeling uncomfortable and I just don't feel the desire to see it to the end.
    • 3/5
      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.
    • 1/5
      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 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.
    • 3/5
      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. 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.
    • 4/5
      This is story of a young man named Stephen who comes with his father to the town where his father grew up. This is a place of last resort for both of them. His father has lost his job and there are masses of bills to pay since Stephen's mother is in an asylum since she is seeing visions and is a danger to herself and others. Stephen and his father are not welcomed by Stephen's grandmother who is a private, emotionless woman who is obsessed with keeping things tidy.The first people Stephen meets are Devon and his twin Cara. Devon invites him to hang out with him and his friends in the Playground - otherwise known as the cemetery - where they spend their nights drinking. Stephen is attracted to Cara with her Goth clothes and tarot cards. He feels that he has something in common with Cara because her mother also seems to be crazy.But there is a dark underside to the town. There's a long-standing legend about winged creatures who require sacrifices to keep the town prosperous. Stephen becomes convinced that Devon and his gang are planning another sacrifice to appease these winged ones. However, most of the adults are in denial about the whole legend and don't believe Stephen when he tries to get help.The story is exciting and fast-paced. Stephen is an interesting character. I think readers who like a little scary in their books will enjoy this one.
    • 2/5
      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 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.
    • 5/5
      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!
    • 3/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & 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 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 shit.” 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 shit.”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.