Aiden Thomas Explained

Aiden Thomas
Citizenship:United States of America
Alma Mater:Mills College
Genre:Young adult fiction
Subjects:-->
Notableworks:Cemetery Boys
Nationality:American

Aiden Thomas is a Latino American author of young adult novels, best known for the book Cemetery Boys which was a New York Times bestseller and won numerous awards, including best of the year recognition from the American Library Association, Publishers Weekly, Barnes & Noble, NPR and School Library Journal.

Personal life

Thomas was born in Oakland, California, and received a MFA in creative writing from Mills College.[1] They live in Portland.[2]

Thomas is transgender and uses he/they pronouns.[3] [4]

Books

Cemetery Boys

See main article: Cemetery Boys. Cemetery Boys was published on September 1, 2020, by Swoon Reads. It tells the story of Yadriel, who is queer, transgender, Latino and a brujo. Unfortunately, his family does not recognize him as a man, which has serious effects on his abilities.

The book was named a best seller by The New York Times and IndieBound,[5] and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly[6] and Booklist.[7]

Lost in the Never Woods

Lost in the Never Woods was published on March 23, 2021, by Swoon Reads.[8] It is a retelling of Peter Pan. The book, as well as the audiobook, received a starred review from Booklist.[9] [10]

The Sunbearer Trials duology

In November 2021, Thomas announced the release of their next book, The Sunbearer Trials, a Mexican-inspired fantasy.[11] The book was published on September 6, 2022 by Feiwel & Friends.[12] It received starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly.[13] [14]

In November 2023, Thomas announced the finale in this series, Celestial Monsters.[15] The book was published on September 3, 2024 by Feiwel & Friends.[16] It received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus Reviews.[17]

Just Max

In October 2021, Thomas announced the acquisition of Just Max,[18] a contemporary YA novel about a trans boy going to college and navigating all the new experiences that includes. Release is set for Winter 2024.[19]

Awards and honors

Cemetery Boys is a Junior Library Guild book.[20] It was a New York Times and Indiebound bestseller, and Publishers Weekly, NPR, and Barnes & Noble named it one of the best books of 2020.[21] [22] [23] School Library Journal included the audiobook on their list of the top ten audiobooks of 2020,[24] the American Library Association (ALA) included it on their 2020 list of the top ten Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults.[25] The following year, the ALA included it in the top ten on their Best Fiction for Young Adults list,[26] [27] ALA Rainbow Book List,[28] and Teens' Top Ten list.[29]

In 2023, the ALA included The Sunbearer Trials on their list of the Best Fiction for Young Adults and their Rainbow List.[30] [31]

Awards for Thomas's writing!Year!Title!Award!Result!
2020Cemetery BoysBram Stoker Award for Best Young Adult NovelShortlisted[32]
Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science FictionNominee[33]
Goodreads Choice Award for Debut Novel Nominee
National Book Award for Young People's LiteratureLonglisted[34] [35]
2021Locus Award for Best First NovelNominee[36]
Lodestar AwardFinalist[37]
Lost in the Never WoodsGoodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science FictionNominee[38]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aiden Thomas . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210915045229/https://us.macmillan.com/author/aidenthomas . September 15, 2021 . 2021-09-15 . Macmillan Publishers.
  2. Web site: Media Kit . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210915045230/https://www.aiden-thomas.com/media-kit . September 15, 2021 . 2021-09-15 . Aiden Thomas.
  3. Web site: Aiden Thomas (@aidenschmaiden) on X . September 7, 2024 . September 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240907164932/https://x.com/aidenschmaiden . live .
  4. Web site: September 6, 2022 . The Sunbearer Trials Is a Window Into a Rich World of Queer Demigods . . September 7, 2024 . August 2, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240802011101/https://www.them.us/story/aiden-thomas-the-sunbearer-trials-interview-ya-queer-fiction . live .
  5. Web site: July 15, 2020. Cemetery Boys. September 15, 2021. Kirkus Reviews. September 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210915045223/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/aiden-thomas/cemetery-boys/. live.
  6. Web site: March Soloway. Jennifer. 2020-06-25. Children's Book Review: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. 2021-09-15. Publishers Weekly. September 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210915045229/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781250250469. live.
  7. Book: Bittner, Rob. May 1, 2020. Cemetery Boys. September 15, 2021. Booklist. September 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210915045228/https://www.booklistonline.com/Cemetery-Boys-/pid=9733271. live.
  8. Web site: May 10, 2021 . Lost in the Never Woods . September 7, 2024 . . September 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240907165037/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/like-dislike/2000245635/ . live .
  9. Book: Smith, Candace. June 1, 2021. Lost in the Never Woods. September 15, 2021. Booklist. September 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210915045226/https://www.booklistonline.com/Lost-in-the-Never-Woods-/pid=9748309. live.
  10. Book: Leary, Alaina. February 1, 2021. Lost in the Never Woods. September 15, 2021. Booklist. September 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210915045229/https://www.booklistonline.com/Lost-in-the-Never-Woods-/pid=9741923. live.
  11. Web site: Thomas . Aiden . 2021-11-22 . Welcome to... ✨THE SUNBEARER TRIALS✨ this stunning over was designed by @LizDresner and @mmarsloud is back at it again with this GORGEOUS cover art featuring our main character, Teo! . 2022-04-29 . . en . April 29, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220429223454/https://twitter.com/aidenschmaiden/status/1462843338210430977 . live .
  12. Web site: The Sunbearer Trials . 2022-04-29 . Macmillan . en-US . April 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220419073917/https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250822130/thesunbearertrials . live .
  13. Web site: 2022-07-21 . The Sunbearer Trials (The Sunbearer #1) by Aiden Thomas . 2024-09-07 . . September 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220924220109/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781250822130 . live .
  14. Web site: Cohen . Stephanie . August 2022 . The Sunbearer Trials . 2024-09-07 . . September 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240907165003/https://www.booklistonline.com/The-Sunbearer-Trials-/pid=9764834 . live .
  15. Web site: Thomas . Aiden . 2023-11-17 . who's ready for an End of the World Road Trip? . 2024-01-16 . Instagram.
  16. Web site: 2024-08-30 . Celestial Monsters . 2024-09-07 . . September 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240907164944/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/like-dislike/2000117828/ . live .
  17. Web site: Leary . Fin . July 2024 . Celestial Monsters . 2024-09-07 . . September 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240907164933/https://www.booklistonline.com/Celestial-Monsters-/pid=9793651 . live .
  18. Web site: Thomas . Aiden . 2021-10-19 . my way of surviving quarantine was to write a story about a trans boy starting college, experiencing the foibles of being stealth in a co-ed dorm, and falling in love with the cute boy who offered to tutor him in math and now i get to share it! . 2022-09-13 . . en . August 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220828025521/https://twitter.com/aidenschmaiden/status/1450580597093453824 . live .
  19. Web site: Rights Report: Week of October 18, 2021 . 2022-09-13 . . en . August 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220828025521/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/87669-rights-report-week-of-october-18-2021.html . live .
  20. Web site: Cemetery Boys . 2024-09-07 . . en . September 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240907165054/https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/cemetery-boys-9781250250469j . live .
  21. Web site: Best Books 2020: Publishers Weekly - Young Adult . 2021-09-15 . Publishers Weekly . May 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220517175319/https://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2020/young-adult . live .
  22. Web site: NPR's Book Concierge . 2021-09-15 . NPR . July 8, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200708074303/https://apps.npr.org/best-books/#view=covers&year=2020 . live .
  23. Web site: Cemetery BoysHardcover . 2021-09-15 . Barnes & Noble . en . October 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211018182242/https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cemetery-boys-aiden-thomas/1132278940?ean=9781250250469 . live .
  24. Web site: Klose . Stephanie . Top 10 Audiobooks of 2020 . 2021-09-15 . School Library Journal . September 15, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210915045229/https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=slj-Top-10-Audiobooks-2020 . live .
  25. Web site: 2021-01-05 . 2021 Top Ten Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults . 2021-09-15 . Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) . en . January 15, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210115223600/http://www.ala.org/yalsa/2021-top-ten-amazing-audiobooks-young-adults . live .
  26. Book: Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2021 . March 15, 2021 . 2021-09-15 . Booklist . June 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220606034410/https://www.booklistonline.com/Best-Fiction-for-Young-Adults/pid=9744798 . live .
  27. Web site: 2021-01-14 . 2021 Top Ten Best Fiction . 2021-09-15 . Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) . en . January 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210114224418/http://www.ala.org/yalsa/2021-top-ten-best-fiction . live .
  28. Book: Rainbow List: 2021 . March 15, 2021 . 2021-09-15 . Booklist . December 21, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221221151407/https://www.booklistonline.com/Rainbow-List/pid=9746003 . live .
  29. Web site: 2021 Teens' Top Ten . 2021-09-15 . American Library Association . October 7, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211007195945/https://www.ala.org/yalsa/sites/ala.org.yalsa/files/content/awardsandgrants/List%20of%20TTT%202021%20Nominees%20with%20Full%20Annotations.pdf . live .
  30. Web site: 2023-03-15 . Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2023 . 2024-09-07 . . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327151925/https://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=9777018 . live .
  31. Web site: 2023-03-15 . Rainbow List: 2023 . 2024-09-07 . . May 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240518231310/https://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=9776835 . live .
  32. Web site: The Bram Stoker Awards 2020 . 2021-09-15 . The Bram Stoker Awards . en . June 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210603210837/http://www.thebramstokerawards.com/uncategorized/the-bram-stoker-awards-2020/ . live .
  33. Web site: Cemetery Boys . 2021-09-15 . Goodreads . September 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240907164935/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52339313-cemetery-boys . live .
  34. Web site: National Book Awards 2020 . 2021-09-15 . National Book Foundation . en-US . September 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210917153721/https://www.nationalbook.org/awards-prizes/national-book-awards-2020/ . live .
  35. Web site: Kantor . Emma . September 16, 2020 . 2020 NBA Longlist for Young People's Literature Announced . 2024-09-07 . . en . June 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606021336/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/84340-2020-nba-longlist-for-young-people-s-literature-announced.html . live .
  36. Web site: 2021-06-26 . 2021 Locus Awards Winners . 2021-09-15 . Locus Online . en-US . December 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211217040541/https://locusmag.com/2021/06/2021-locus-awards-winners/ . live .
  37. Web site: 2021-01-01 . 2021 Hugo Awards . 2021-09-15 . The Hugo Awards . en-US . May 13, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240513061714/https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2021-hugo-awards/ . live .
  38. Web site: Lost in the Never Woods . 2024-09-07 . . en . September 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240907164935/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39897752-lost-in-the-never-woods . live .

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