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The Black Flamingo
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A boy comes to terms with his identity as a mixed-race gay teen - then at university he finds his wings as a drag artist, The Black Flamingo. A bold story about the power of embracing your uniqueness. Sometimes, we need to take charge, to stand up wearing pink feathers - to show ourselves to the world in bold colour.
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Hardcover, 360 pages
Published
August 8th 2019
by Hodder Children's Books
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4.5*
*Update I reread this because I had listened to the audiobook the first time and then found out there were illustrations in it and I'm sooo glad I did ...more
*Update I reread this because I had listened to the audiobook the first time and then found out there were illustrations in it and I'm sooo glad I did ...more
“your ignorance may be innocent, but the racism is real”
wow... just wow. READ THIS BOOK. it's incredible and 100% one of my favourite books of the year. ...more
wow... just wow. READ THIS BOOK. it's incredible and 100% one of my favourite books of the year. ...more
who else did not know they needed this drag queen origin story??
I first saw Dean Atta talk and read at a poetry event in Berlin. I had previously read his poem "How to come out as gay" in the queer anthology Proud (that you should definitely read cause it's perfect and super gay) and couldn't believe my luck when I found out that I would be able to see him perform live. The reading was fascinating and Dean's poetry touched me deeply. He has a way of stringing words together that just made me wan ...more
I first saw Dean Atta talk and read at a poetry event in Berlin. I had previously read his poem "How to come out as gay" in the queer anthology Proud (that you should definitely read cause it's perfect and super gay) and couldn't believe my luck when I found out that I would be able to see him perform live. The reading was fascinating and Dean's poetry touched me deeply. He has a way of stringing words together that just made me wan ...more
4.5 Stars.
Oh, wow, my heart is so full. Dean Atta, this is exceptional; a piece of art. Thank you for writing.
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!
The Black Flamingo is a novel written in verse. My first. Going in, I was concerned.
I wanted to read it because of the subject matter, but I just wasn't sure if the format would work for me.
My experience with poetry, of any sort, is limited, and those experiences I have had, were not great. My mind just generally doesn't work that way.
Maybe I'm too literal, but I t ...more
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!
The Black Flamingo is a novel written in verse. My first. Going in, I was concerned.
I wanted to read it because of the subject matter, but I just wasn't sure if the format would work for me.
My experience with poetry, of any sort, is limited, and those experiences I have had, were not great. My mind just generally doesn't work that way.
Maybe I'm too literal, but I t ...more
Don’t come out because you think that society expects you to.
Come out for yourself.
Come out to yourself
This book was such an impactful read for me and the epilogue had me sobbing with how much I resonated with everything being said. This is an amazing book that deals with a coming of age LGBTQIA+ main character. It deals with race, racism, gender identity, sexuality, drag, internalized homophobia and homophobia. It is definitely a deep book but it does have lighthearted, loving moments. I would ...more
Come out for yourself.
Come out to yourself
This book was such an impactful read for me and the epilogue had me sobbing with how much I resonated with everything being said. This is an amazing book that deals with a coming of age LGBTQIA+ main character. It deals with race, racism, gender identity, sexuality, drag, internalized homophobia and homophobia. It is definitely a deep book but it does have lighthearted, loving moments. I would ...more
4.5 stars
We follow Michael as he grows from a child to a teenager to a young adult. We are right with him when he takes his first tentative steps towards adulthood and finding his identity.
The Written Review
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“You are a full human being. It's never as simple as being half and half.”This was a stunning book!
We follow Michael as he grows from a child to a teenager to a young adult. We are right with him when he takes his first tentative steps towards adulthood and finding his identity.
This book is a fairy tale in which I am the prince and the princess.This was o ...more
I am the king and the queen.
Gorgeously unique, Dean Atta's
The Black Flamingo
is a salute to finding and loving yourself.
Michael is a half-Jamaican, half Greek Cypriot boy growing up in London. He realizes early on that being mixed-race makes him different, as he’s not black enough for some in his family and not Greek enough for others.
He also knows he’d rather play with dolls and his female friends, and kiss the boys. After some ridicule by his peers he finds a way to get by, and he forms a close friendship with Daisy ...more
Michael is a half-Jamaican, half Greek Cypriot boy growing up in London. He realizes early on that being mixed-race makes him different, as he’s not black enough for some in his family and not Greek enough for others.
He also knows he’d rather play with dolls and his female friends, and kiss the boys. After some ridicule by his peers he finds a way to get by, and he forms a close friendship with Daisy ...more
Jun 08, 2020
may ➹
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
4-star,
pov-1st,
diverse,
rep-lgbtqiap-author,
rep-lgbtqiap-mlm,
ownvoices,
library,
poetry,
rep-bipoc,
young-adult
this book was so good for many reasons, including the line “Rowan looks like Ed Sheeran if he was handsome”
rtc!
rtc!
I haven't loved verse novels in the past. I have found them hard to connect to...
Until The Black Flamingo.
This book is truly beautiful.
It's about understanding your own identity and knowing that you are the one in charge of the terms and conditions of such.
Until The Black Flamingo.
Men are sand castles made out of pebbles
and the bucket is patriarchy: if you remove it,
we fear we won't be able to hold ourselves
together, we pour in cement to fill the gaps
to make ourselves concrete constructions
This book is truly beautiful.
It's about understanding your own identity and knowing that you are the one in charge of the terms and conditions of such.
He is me, who I hav...more
This was just beautiful, and I feel like I want half the book in quotes on my wall, because it's just so deeply about identity and self and figuring out how you can fit yourself into the things you admire. The queer self-discovery and love really filled me, although the book didn't feel long enough. I felt like Michael's life is just beginning and then we have to let him go 🥺💛
the story
It follows Michael from being a very small child till a late-teen in university (set in London!) and him discove ...more
the story
It follows Michael from being a very small child till a late-teen in university (set in London!) and him discove ...more
Jun 20, 2020
Ashleigh (a frolic through fiction)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
physically-own
This book is so worth the read! Not my usual kind of read in terms of genre (contemporary) or format (verse), but it certainly convinced me that I need to give contemporary as a whole more of a chance. This is a book that will stick with me. Focusing largely on identity, this book shows the fluidity of life, the complications of loving relationships, the need to confront the internalisations of society...and so much more. So much is said in so little words, and it really packs a punch. Definitel
...more
new favourite 🥺🥺
this was so touching and relatable even though I’m not going through the same problems I just ❤️ so much love
I love that they paid homage to the drag community.
— overall: 4.75 —
The plot doesn’t go very in depth as it is written in verse but I think that it was actually the best device to write the story, it focused on all the right parts. Fast paced and overall just an incredible journey that spans highschool through col ...more
this was so touching and relatable even though I’m not going through the same problems I just ❤️ so much love
I love that they paid homage to the drag community.
"Your ignorance may be innocent but the racism is real."
— overall: 4.75 —
The plot doesn’t go very in depth as it is written in verse but I think that it was actually the best device to write the story, it focused on all the right parts. Fast paced and overall just an incredible journey that spans highschool through col ...more
This one totally surprised me!
First of all, it's a book in verse.
Second, it has awesome poetry content in between.
Third, the illustration is just amazing!
But what got me the most was the narration which is heartfelt, piercing, meaningful and wholesome.
I have read some coming of age, young adult queer LGBTQ plus fiction and non-fiction but this one stands out as something very close to heart and it almost reads to me like a biographical fiction.
It is the first time for me to read about the Drag ...more
First of all, it's a book in verse.
Second, it has awesome poetry content in between.
Third, the illustration is just amazing!
But what got me the most was the narration which is heartfelt, piercing, meaningful and wholesome.
I have read some coming of age, young adult queer LGBTQ plus fiction and non-fiction but this one stands out as something very close to heart and it almost reads to me like a biographical fiction.
It is the first time for me to read about the Drag ...more
A rather powerful and moving story told in a beautiful, poetic format. Unlike anything I've ever read before and there were so many moments I could relate to this as a gay man. Simply wonderful!
...more
“Your ignorance may be innocent, but the racism is real."
Books told in verse nearly always leave a great impact on me. The Black Flamingo was no exception.
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
Michael is a mixed race gay teen who’s father left when he was young. We follow Michael from age six to nineteen as he navigates his identity and the stigma surrounding his skin colour and queerness. It isn’t until university that Michael discovers drag, though when he does its as if he can truly embrace wh ...more
Books told in verse nearly always leave a great impact on me. The Black Flamingo was no exception.
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
Michael is a mixed race gay teen who’s father left when he was young. We follow Michael from age six to nineteen as he navigates his identity and the stigma surrounding his skin colour and queerness. It isn’t until university that Michael discovers drag, though when he does its as if he can truly embrace wh ...more
if i was a famous author who had the chance to blurb this book, mine would be 'read it cowards'
(a definitely more serious) rtc ...more
(a definitely more serious) rtc ...more
In verse, gorgeous, slice of life yet not, amazingly heartfelt and surprisingly lighthearted coming-of-age.
Writing: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
The Black Flamingo totally shocked me. First it shocked me because I bought it and didn't realize it was written in verse. Then it shocked me because I read it in one sitting. And then it shocked me at how amazing it was—which shouldn't have been shocking, but to be honest as it was my first verse novel and I'm NOT a fan of poetry, I thought that ...more
Writing: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
The Black Flamingo totally shocked me. First it shocked me because I bought it and didn't realize it was written in verse. Then it shocked me because I read it in one sitting. And then it shocked me at how amazing it was—which shouldn't have been shocking, but to be honest as it was my first verse novel and I'm NOT a fan of poetry, I thought that ...more
Trigger warnings for homophobia, racism, and bullying.
So short, but such a powerful read. I listened to the audio of this and love the different snippets we got of Michael's life from elementary school to when he's in college. I felt so connected to Michael from page one as he is trying to understand his identity in a world that's not the most accepting. I loved it and only wish it were a bit longer so we could see Michael as he continued to grow and understand his identity! ...more
So short, but such a powerful read. I listened to the audio of this and love the different snippets we got of Michael's life from elementary school to when he's in college. I felt so connected to Michael from page one as he is trying to understand his identity in a world that's not the most accepting. I loved it and only wish it were a bit longer so we could see Michael as he continued to grow and understand his identity! ...more
Another wonderful memoir written partially in free verse form.
Touching, meaningful, and charming.
And just 3 hrs and 40 mins long. Quick and endearing - perfect for a Saturday afternoon.
Full review to come....
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Follow me on Bookstagram ...more
Touching, meaningful, and charming.
And just 3 hrs and 40 mins long. Quick and endearing - perfect for a Saturday afternoon.
Full review to come....
___________________________________
Find more reviews and book recommendations on my blog
Follow me on Bookstagram ...more
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I have never read such a book in this format before. After a chapter I got so used to it I loved it. Especially with the pages that had illustrations on it, and variable page colours going from white to black. I can understand why that was done. Fabulous touch.
This is Michaels story.
The comparisons he makes to his confusion about himself is also about the confusion of those aro ...more
Did I stay up until 4am and read this book in one sitting? Yes. Yes I did. It’s just that good.
This book was excellent, I have nothing more to say really. It's the story of a mixed-race gay boy who discovers himself and his own identity through the most beautiful journey. It's such a current story that will speak to lots of people. This book deals with a wide range of very different topics, but it does so in a very truthful way. Also, it's all written in verse, which is something I always find very unique in a book. I'll definitely make sure to check out Dean Atta's other works.
...more
just want to hold this book to my chest and absorb the last twenty pages into my body through osmosis
A beautiful coming-of-age story about a gay biracial black boy as he find his voice through poetry and drag.
For me, it's always a breath of fresh air to read about marginalized characters who are not from the US. Yes, Michael is British, and it's not difficult to find stories set in England, but stories about marginalized characters in contemporary are overwhelmingly American. In this story, you'll see Michael come to terms with what it means for him to be British and Jamaican and Cypriot; to be ...more
For me, it's always a breath of fresh air to read about marginalized characters who are not from the US. Yes, Michael is British, and it's not difficult to find stories set in England, but stories about marginalized characters in contemporary are overwhelmingly American. In this story, you'll see Michael come to terms with what it means for him to be British and Jamaican and Cypriot; to be ...more
Feb 20, 2020
CW (The Quiet Pond) ✨
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
has-lgbtqa-rep,
ownvoices,
diverse-shelf,
has-poc-rep,
young-adult,
2020,
poetry,
coming-of-age,
realistic-fiction
Raw, vulnerable, and fierce, The Black Flamingo is a coming-of-age poetry book I'll probably never ever forget. Wow, what a book!!
- Follows Michael, a mixed (Jamaican and Greek-Cypriot) Black teen, as he grows up from a young child to going to university, and how he navigate the intersections of his identities and incredible moments in his life.
- I'm marveled by how this book explores so many things so tightly without compromising an iota of depth and emotion. This book is packed with emotive ve ...more
- Follows Michael, a mixed (Jamaican and Greek-Cypriot) Black teen, as he grows up from a young child to going to university, and how he navigate the intersections of his identities and incredible moments in his life.
- I'm marveled by how this book explores so many things so tightly without compromising an iota of depth and emotion. This book is packed with emotive ve ...more
I wish literature like this had been around when I was younger.
A Bildungsroman about Michael, from childhood to fully flocked flamingo, we follow the ups and downs of coming out at school, first crushes, first high heels, first drag. All told through verse. It’s beautiful, powerful and executed perfectly. I fell completely into Michael’s world and the rollercoaster that was his life. The words wrapped me up in Michael’s story and made me care for him and his family and friends more than some 50 ...more
A Bildungsroman about Michael, from childhood to fully flocked flamingo, we follow the ups and downs of coming out at school, first crushes, first high heels, first drag. All told through verse. It’s beautiful, powerful and executed perfectly. I fell completely into Michael’s world and the rollercoaster that was his life. The words wrapped me up in Michael’s story and made me care for him and his family and friends more than some 50 ...more
Oct 04, 2019
Lucy Powrie
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
lgbt,
ukya,
own-books,
to-review,
verse-novel,
kindle,
review-books,
ukya-2019,
contemporary,
debut
A beautiful, seamless verse novel about growing up, coming out, and finding your place in the world. The powerful words are enhanced by Anshika Khullar’s thought-provoking illustrations. Amazing!
Remember you have the right to be proud. Remember you have the right to be you.
Written in verse, this tells the story of Michael, a half Jamaican, half Greek-Cyprian boy, who prefers to play with barbies over Ninja Turtles. He's always known he was different and through these poems, he explores what that meant growing up, trying to find his tribe, the heartbreaks and betrayals and expression.
The Black Flamingo is, at its core, a love letter to the differences in you that make you stand out. Tha ...more
Written in verse, this tells the story of Michael, a half Jamaican, half Greek-Cyprian boy, who prefers to play with barbies over Ninja Turtles. He's always known he was different and through these poems, he explores what that meant growing up, trying to find his tribe, the heartbreaks and betrayals and expression.
The Black Flamingo is, at its core, a love letter to the differences in you that make you stand out. Tha ...more
Dec 03, 2019
rachel ☾
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
4-star,
rep-queer-author,
contemporary,
poetry,
rep-bipoc,
rep-bipoc-author,
rep-queer,
releases-2020
an absolute must-read this pride
➸ Trigger warnings for (view spoiler) ...more
➸ Trigger warnings for (view spoiler) ...more
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Readers also enjoyed
Dean was shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize for his debut poetry collection, I Am Nobody’s Nigger. His poems have been anthologised by Bad Betty Press, Emma Press, Stripes Publishing, Team Angelica and have appeared on BBC One, BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service and Channel 4. Dean was named as one of the most influential LGBT people in the UK by the Independent on Sunday. He regularly perfor
...more
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“You are a full human being. It's never as simple as being half and half.”
—
29 likes
“Don’t.
Don’t come out unless you want to. Don’t come out for anyone else’s sake. Don’t come out because you think society expects you to.
Come out for yourself.
Come out to yourself.
Shout, sing it.
Softly stutter.
Correct those who say they knew before you did.
That’s not how sexuality works, it’s yours to define.”
—
22 likes
More quotes…
Don’t come out unless you want to. Don’t come out for anyone else’s sake. Don’t come out because you think society expects you to.
Come out for yourself.
Come out to yourself.
Shout, sing it.
Softly stutter.
Correct those who say they knew before you did.
That’s not how sexuality works, it’s yours to define.”
