They Thought They Buried Us

Nonieqa Ramos

Paperback

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Pre-order: Ships Aug 4th, 2026

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Horror fan and aspiring film director Yuiza gets a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school. But something is not quite right.

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.

Praise for They Thought They Buried Us
Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Award Longlist
Jacqueline Woodson Award for LGBTQ+ Children's/Young Adult Literature Finalist

"Fans of horror movies in particular will appreciate this creepy story that centers survival for queer, BIPOC characters in the face of white supremacy."--Booklist

Book Details

Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab (R)
Publish Date: Aug 4th, 2026
Pages: 368
Language: English
Edition: undefined - undefined
Dimensions: 0.00in - 0.00in - 0.00in - 0.00lb
EAN: 9798348051426
Recommended age: 14-18
Categories: • Horror• LGBTQ+ - General• Social Themes - Prejudice & Racism

About the Author

Ramos, Nonieqa: - Raised in the Boogie Down Bronx, NoNieqa Ramos is an educator and literary activist. Their work includes the young adult novels The Disturbed Girl's Dictionary and The Truth Is, as well as the picture book Hair Story. They believe Halloween is a lifestyle, not a holiday. If you're in Virginia, you might catch NoNieqa getting motorcycle lessons from their soulmate Michael or going indie bookstore hopping with their preciosos Jandi and Langston. Connect with their works on www.nonieqaramos.com or on the Latinx collective www.lasmusasbooks.com.

Praise for this book

"NoNieqa Ramos crafts a mesmerizing, razor-sharp horror story, spinning an intricate web of secrets, betrayals, biting humor and exacting truth. They Thought They Buried Us will challenge readers and devour hearts."--Alexandra Villasante, author of The Grief Keeper

-- (2/20/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"Being a horror fan is better when you're not the main character, but for Yuiza, it's their only way out of a living nightmare. With a tightly-plotted mystery and snark that sings to a misfit's heart, Nonieqa Ramos's They Thought They Buried Us uncovers what happens when the ones rewriting history run out of ink."--Amparo Ortiz, author of Last Sunrise in Eterna

-- (2/20/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"A riveting horror story. . . that reads like a Jordan Peele movie. . . the perfect choice for readers searching for purposeful horror that lingers long after the last page."--Sandra Proudman, editor of Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories

-- (2/20/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"A reflection of colonization and current society so real, it is unclear where the truth ends and the horror begins. This book will make you rethink everything you thought you knew and channel the power of ancestors into your soul with a calling to rise up in power. Unforgettable."--Joanna Ho, author of The Silence That Binds Us

-- (3/26/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"Ramos explores the struggles and complexities of being BIPOC in a mostly white and affluent environment with nuance and sensitivity. Reviewer Rating: 5"--Children's Literature

-- (8/7/2025 12:00:00 AM)