It would be interesting to juxtapose NoNieqa Ramos’s novel They Thought They Buried Us and Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’s Ace of Spades. Both use prestigious high schools as backdrops to explore institutional racism, colonialism, and the erasure of history/culture BIPOC students are often forced to endure when navigating predominately white spaces. But where Ace of Spades is a bit more subtle in its “reveal,” Ramos is unflinching and blunt in their description of the rigged education system. In true horror fashion, it is easy to identify the evils at the school and the unsettling sense of dread and danger. In fact, there are literal as well as metaphorical screams into the void in this novel. Without revealing spoilers, the climax of this novel left a little to be desired. Storylines were left incomplete, character motivations were wanting, and the frogs took away from the high stakes horror element. However, the ending(s) hooked me right back in again. It was a brilliant way to conclude the novel and would appeal to both adult and young adult readers alike.

Favorite Characters: Rosario
Favorite Dynamic: Yuiza and her roommate Glorymar – besides a very out of place ‘romantic’ scene, these two were interesting foils to each other.

If Get Out and the Lois Duncan book Down a Dark Hall had a baby that engaged with indigenous and Latine identities and heritage in addition to LGBTQ+ identities, it would barely touch the tension and overwhelming building horror of this book. Beautiful, brutal, shattering, and it left me feeling wrung out. I cannot imagine what it would be like to read this as a BIPOC person.

You'll be shouting "No!" in your head but you also can't stop because you try and have hope that there will be a good ending; the ending they deserve.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing for an advanced copy.

Unfortunately, this is a first-25-pages DNF for me. I usually try to give books until the 30% mark, but the way this book is formatted as if parts of it were a script was making it incredibly difficult to read. The first time a new character is introduced, their name is bolded in all caps and each new scene is preceded by a script-style description of the location and time.

I really wanted to love this, but the prose and narration felt so strange and juvenile that I couldn't focus on what was happening. It read more like MG than YA, which I think might be fine for younger readers who are in between the two categories, but as an older reader it just wasn't for me.

I think if you like the idea of blending prose with other kinds of formatting, you might enjoy this, it just wasn't the right thing for me.

For fans of the horror of Jordan Peele and the generational trauma of "Encanto". Even before the MC mentioned "Us" I was already feeling the "Get Out" vibes with hints of magical realism.
Additionally, coming from a Queer BIPOC author, the Queer BIPOC MC (and other characters) was absolutely effortless. While the POC were a plot point, the use of diverse pronouns and sexual identities didn't feel forced or like an author trying to meet a quota.
Because of my personal background I did not 100% relate to the MC, but anyone who grew up in a bilingual household is sure to feel themselves in this book. I can't wait to read more from NoNieqa Ramos.

sana, sana, colita de rana...

This was not one of my favorites. The writing was super disjointed and didn't flow at all. I wasn't a fan of the "horror movie script" layout that the entire book had. There was also too much going on to connect the story.

✨ They Thought They Buried Us ✨

“You didn’t just inherit generational pain in your DNA. You inherited generational resolve. Draw on our strength. The strength of your ancestors.” - Nonieqa Ramos

Wow!! They Thought They Buried Us is an eerie read from start to finish! This YA Horror is 100% giving Get Out vibes while highlighting the existence of racism, colonialism & classism in academic settings. Unsettling & thought provoking in the best way possible - They Thought They Buried Us sheds light on the dangers of rewriting history to make it more “palatable”. So good, so scary & chillingly relevant! 10/10 recommend!

Thank you so much Colored Pages Tours & Lerner Books for sending a copy my way! This was my first time reading a book by Nonieqa Ramos and I’m very excited to check out more of their work!

I'm so frustrated about this novel. Because there was so much potential dripping off these pages—the entire premise, the use of script-writing integrated into the prose itself, and the exploration of racism literally haunting + terrorizing generations. I was so excited to dive in.

However, the execution was just...not there. I felt like They Thought They Buried Us needed at least one or two more rounds of edits. Transitions were clunky, dialogue felt unnatural, and I just felt like it needed to be edited to really make its impact. Because, I do think if this was tighter and smoother, this would have truly delivered.

But, as it is, I left frustrated and upset that it didn't live up to its fullest potential.

True rating: 2.5 stars.

Let me start by saying I was deeply intrigued by the premise of this book. The setting and atmosphere were great. A haunted boarding school with a dark secret and an aspiring horror filmmaker who is being forced to attend, as to not let their family down.

Queer horror? Academic setting? A haunting? Yes, please.

It turns out, unfortunately, this just wasn't the story for me. The pacing and writing style were a bit odd and clunky for me. It felt like it took a while for the plot to really get going, and the characters sometimes read as much younger than they were supposed to be. (In the first chapters our main character read as a middle school student rather than a high school teen.) This made it hard for me to get invested in the story and to understand character motivations, and their reasoning behind decisions.

However, I can see how this would appeal to another audience. The way this book was set up in a movie script style was really lovely and a nice change of pace. The story also relies on some classic horror tropes, and truly is creepy if you connect with the plot and characters.

"Horror fan and aspiring film director Yuiza gets a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school. But that's just the tip of the iceberg.

As one of the few students of color at Our Lady of Perpetual Mercy, Yuiza immediately feels out of place. A brutal work-study schedule makes it impossible to keep up with the actual classes. Every expense, from textbooks to laundry, puts Yuiza into debt. And the behavior of students and faculty is... unsettling.

Yuiza starts having disturbing dreams about the school's past and discovers clues about the fate of other scholarship students. It'll take all Yuiza's knowledge of the horror genre to escape from Our Lady's grasp."

I love this whole subgenre of Dark Academia focusing on scholarship students.

I was happily surprised by this book from the moment I started to read it to the way it ends. The writing style of Nonieqa Ramos isn't just about style, there is plenty of substance - from the atmospheric narrative to her well rounded characters. I feel like I can't say much more without spoiling it so I will just say that I will read whatever they write next.

This book is YA and I am not of that demographic, so take that into account here.
The middle of this book was interesting, it was engaging and I enjoyed reading about the school as well as what Yuiza, our protagonist, was going through.
Unfortunately it was bookended by the beginning, which was mostly unnecessary, and the end, which I found very disappointingly unsatisfying.
I didn’t feel that Yuiza’s love of horror really mattered and was played up too much for what was actually happening in the story. The amount of magical realism at the end got way out of balance for what was going on in the rest of the book.
And the ending—really, what was that? Pick a path and commit, it was like the author couldn’t decide how they wanted to end the book so went with all of it. It became a choose your own adventure for the very end and that just ruined it for me completely.

This book was horribly hard for me to follow with the character names. Three different Tias with descriptive names, not real names, was incredibly difficult for my brain to keep up with.

Nonieqa Ramos delivers a chilling and thought-provoking horror tale in *They Thought They Buried Us*, a novel that masterfully blends genre conventions with sharp social commentary. With its intense atmosphere and gripping narrative, this book is a standout in contemporary horror literature.

The story centers on Yuiza, a horror enthusiast and aspiring filmmaker, who receives a scholarship to attend Our Lady of Perpetual Mercy, a prestigious boarding school. The scholarship seems like a dream come true, but it quickly devolves into a nightmare. As one of the few students of color at the school, Yuiza feels alienated and struggles with the oppressive demands of a brutal work-study schedule and mounting financial burdens. Her discomfort intensifies when she begins to experience disturbing dreams about the school’s dark history and discovers unsettling clues about the fate of previous scholarship students.

Ramos’s skillful writing captures Yuiza’s isolation and fear, vividly portraying her sense of displacement in an environment that seems both physically and psychologically menacing. The boarding school is depicted with an eerie, unsettling quality that perfectly complements Yuiza’s mounting dread. The novel’s exploration of racism, classism, and the oppressive structures within educational institutions is both incisive and impactful.

The horror elements of the story are masterfully interwoven with Yuiza’s journey. Ramos leverages Yuiza’s deep knowledge of the horror genre to craft a narrative that is as intellectually engaging as it is terrifying. The clues Yuiza uncovers about the school's past and the fate of other students create a tense and immersive experience for the reader. The blend of supernatural horror with real-world issues is executed with precision, making the novel not only a gripping read but also a profound commentary on the intersections of race, privilege, and history.

Advance praise for *They Thought They Buried Us* highlights its effectiveness in blending horror with social critique. Alexandra Villasante’s praise of Ramos’s intricate web of secrets and biting humor is well-deserved. Amparo Ortiz’s commendation of the novel’s tightly plotted mystery and snarky dialogue resonates with the book’s ability to capture the misfit’s experience. Joanna Ho’s reflection on the book’s commentary on colonization and societal issues underscores its powerful and unforgettable impact.

In conclusion, *They Thought They Buried Us* is a standout horror novel that combines suspenseful storytelling with a profound exploration of social issues. Nonieqa Ramos has crafted a story that not only thrills but also challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths. With its darkly atmospheric setting, compelling characters, and sharp critique of societal structures, this book is an essential read for fans of the genre and anyone interested in a powerful reflection on contemporary issues.

Immediately from the start, this book reminded me vaguely of Marvel’s “Into the Spiderverse” and very much of Miles Morales, but mixed with a healthy heaping of cheesy horror movies, fun dialogue, and a mystery that makes you want to find out more as soon as possible. Overall, this book is both fun and enjoyable, but also sends chills down the spine at just the right moments.

When I read the synopsis of the book, I thought this was for me. Unfortunately, I have to say I'm either not smart enough for the book or I'm not the intended demographic. I could not get through the storyline to get to the meat of this book. I'm sure it's a great one but I couldn't keep the characters straight especially the aunts. Not for me, maybe for a younger crowd.

I always love a good ya - horror thriller book.

Has a good strong characters in this book so that was nice.

Full transparency, I had no idea what this book was about, I just thought it would be an interesting horror/thriller. That being said, I could not make it farther than thirty pages. The writing to me was so juvenile, but I could tell it was supposed to be part of the story and was meant to feel sort of script-ish, with the theme of the book. However, the random words and names just being bolded really irked me. I understand this is an ARC, and not the final product, but this book was not for me.

This is great read. The characters were engaging and I couldn't put the book down. I would recommend this book for a book club or a friend.

I’m not really a YA reader but I did mostly enjoy this! It’s a very engrossing read — I finished it in just a couple of hours. The dialogue was occasionally kind of corny (is this how teens talk?) but the elite boarding school as a microcosm of society at large was really well done. It was painful every time Yuiza had no choice but to sink further into debt, putting her so behind in the race before it had even started.

There are a few things that I think really could’ve been explored further. Firstly, other than the moment where Yuiza is told they couldn’t be a server because the servers are more feminine, there is really not much discussion of the way their queer identity would’ve compounded the discrimination they faced. This is a school that is forcing their students of color into indentured servitude, yet very little homophobia seems to exist in this world. Even the issue of gender presentation is put aside fairly quickly, with Yuiza simply changing their hair and putting on lipstick. It just felt a little odd to make this an aspect of Yuiza’s character and then have it play such a minor role.

I also would’ve liked to learn more about the work study students who “make it.” Why were they chosen? Do they have any compunctions about the role they play? I was also kind of confused about the role that the mothers play in this story. Why would they ever send their children to this place? How were they convinced to do so?

All this is not to say that I didn’t like the book! I just wish the world of the story had been expanded a bit more.

They Thought They Buries Us is a powerful and gripping novel that delves deep into themes of resilience, identity, and community. Ramos' writing is both raw and poetic, capturing the intense emotions and struggles of her characters with a vividness that makes the story hard to put down.

The narrative centers around a community faced with adversity, and Ramos does a masterful job of depicting the collective and individual battles that define their experiences. The characters are richly developed, each with their own distinct voice and journey, making it easy to become invested in their lives.