In The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta, Michael grows up in London, uncertain of who he is. He doesn’t feel that he’s Jamaican enough, or Greek Cypriot enough to identify with either group. And then there’s his sexuality, as it becomes more and more apparent as he grows up that he’s definitely not straight. So when he arrives at university, he’s seeking meaning and direction, and unexpectedly finds it in Drag Society, where he embraces a new way to express himself and to feel like he belongs somewhere.

I really enjoy a good novel in verse sometimes, and this is a fantastic example of that genre.

Michael is a relatable character, especially for people who are mixed race but who grew up somewhat away from the cultures of their families. He is also the sort of character you can’t help but want good things for. I also really liked the side characters like his little sister Anna, his best friend Daisy, and the other friends he makes throughout school.

Being a mixed race person who’s also gay, Michael does face some hardships. He deals with micro-aggressions related to his heritage and his sexuality, as well as his own complex feelings about both. But throughout, there are also people who support him and understand him, and though these serious subjects aren’t shied away from, they also aren’t impossible obstacles.

I quite enjoyed learning a bit more about drag, and the reasons that people do it. As an act of rebellion and empowerment, it’s fantastic, and it’s also such a joyful form of performance. I loved seeing Michael embrace parts of himself he’d never embraced before.

And as for the writing of this book itself, Atta is so incredibly talented. I could hear Michael’s voice in my head as I read, his emotions leaping off the page. Poetry is sometimes a sparse form, needing to pack a punch in very few words, and Atta succeeds with flying colors. It’s a book that if I reread it, I’d love to listen to the audiobook, because I think it would be really moving and lovely. Any way you read it, though, it’ll be rewarding.

In the end, The Black Flamingo is fantastic! It’s insightful and uplifting, emotional and entertaining. The characters are well-formed, and the pacing is perfect. It’s a smart, moving coming-of-age story that asks the reader to come to it with an open mind and compassion, and brings in turn a lot of joy, heartache, and love. A wonderful book, and if you like Elizabeth Acevedo, read this!