A review by gina_readsbooks
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

“Remember, you have the right to be proud; remember, you have the right to be you.”

I picked this one up for banned books week, and it’s an extraordinary coming of age story that is so relatable. Told in verse, it creates such a beautiful, flowing narrative. 

Michael is a great, complex main character who is struggling with his mixed-race and his sexual identity. He has this incredible journey of self-discovery that leads him to the drag community. It teaches him to embrace his uniqueness and offers this unmatched acceptance. 

The writing is lovely and the message is poignant. It manages to tackle deep emotions while celebrating youth and love. This is the kind of book that I think is incredibly important  for LGBTQ youth to have access to. Representation is important and this book shows that perfectly.