The black flamingo

by Dean Atta

Paper Book, 2019

Language

Status

Available

Rating

(121 ratings; 4.3)

Awards

Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2022)
Stonewall Book Award (Winner — 2020)
Florida Teens Read Award (Nominee — 2022)

Description

Poetry. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. LGBTQIA+ (Fiction.) HTML: Stonewall Book Award Winner * A Time Magazine Best YA Book of All Time A fierce coming-of-age verse novel about identity and the power of drag, from acclaimed poet and performer Dean Atta. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo, Jason Reynolds, and Kacen Callender. Michael is a mixed-race gay teen growing up in London. All his life, he's navigated what it means to be Greek-Cypriot and Jamaican�??but never quite feeling Greek or Black enough. As he gets older, Michael's coming out is only the start of learning who he is and where he fits in. When he discovers the Drag Society, he finally finds where he belongs�??and the Black Flamingo is born. Told with raw honesty, insight, and lyricism, this debut explores the layers of identity that make us who we are�??and allow us to shine. "In this uplifting coming-of-age novel told in accessible verse, Atta chronicles the growth and glory of Michael Angeli, a mixed-race kid from London, as he navigates his cultural identity as Cypriot and Jamaican as well as his emerging sexuality." (Publishers Weekly, "An Anti-Racist Children's and YA Reading List")… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member tapestry100
A remarkably beautiful book. More to come later.
LibraryThing member ecataldi
Fierce, fabulous, and inspiring. Written in verse this coming of age teen novel tells of a young boy's journey to acceptance and self love. Michael is mixed raced queer Londoner who has always had an idea of who he is but never felt he truly fit in anywhere. When he goes away to college he
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discovers the drag society and it's the missing piece of the puzzle. Suddenly things make more sense and Michael has the clarity and the confidence that he aspired to for so long. Moving and honest, this uplifting tale inspires readers to find their own spotlight and revel in it. Fantastic.
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LibraryThing member reader1009
audiobook (read by author) teen/adult fiction, winner of 2020 stonewall book award for youth
Biracial (Jamaican/Greek-Cyprus) British, gay boy grows up with absent father, comes out to various people at various times, deals with race issues, discovers the drag community, starts to date. #ownvoices
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author.
written in lyrical verse, this is a relatively quick read and it is a joy to spend time with Michael--a sweet child who grows into a strong man, who has only ever wanted people to love him for who he is. He doesn't ever get the exact Barbie doll that he asked his mother for when he was six, but he does find plenty of love and support from his friends when he steps out in drag. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ recommended.
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LibraryThing member tuusannuuska
A really nice coming of age story with a lot to say about belonging to a marginalized group.

I'm really wary about reading young adult, because I'm closer to being middle aged than to being a teenager and have trouble relating to all than many young adult novels. This was was written in a tone that
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really got me, even though I have no first hand experience of the things the main character went through.
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LibraryThing member caedocyon
I wasn't expecting the verse. I wasn't that into it in the first half but came around towards the end---maybe because Michael's poetry also gets better when he's in college.

Publication

London : Hodder Children's Books, 2019.

Original publication date

2020

ISBN

9781444948585

Physical description

21 inches
Page: 2.7326 seconds