Reviews

Czarny Flaming by Dean Atta

shannenlc's review against another edition

5.0

Trying to review this book is tricky, because all I want to do is gush about how much I bloody LOVED IT!! Honestly, everything about it touched my heart. The illustrations were gorgeous, the poetry beautiful and raw and the reading experience so emotional. Name any emotion and I guarantee I felt it whilst reading this book.

"Being both black and queer,
affirming that I exist,
I am here and I have been here
long before this moment,
the first people were black
and queerness predates its modern meaning.
Queerness predates its derogatory meaning.
Queerness predates colonialism
and Christianity.
Queerness predates any hate attached to it.

I call myself black.
I call myself queer.
I call myself beautiful.
I call myself eternal.
I canll myself iconic.
I call myself futuristic."

The Black Flamingo follows Mike, a young black boy, who is trying to figure out his sexual and gender identity, and how that aligns with his blackness. It's a complex journey of self-discovery for Mike who experiences a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions along the way - confusion, self-doubt, anxiety, fear, uncertainty, shame, curiosity, exhiliration, inspiration, understanding, acceptance and pride. His experiences are both internal and external, and it's certainly not a smooth journey for him. He faces prejudice and discrimination, but commits himself to the path of finding his true self and is relentless in that pursuit, regardless of what others think, say or do. Mike is a truly inspirational character, not just for young audiences, but adult audiences too.

"Before I came here
I didn't want to wear a dress,
I didn't want to be that stereotype.

I know that's wrong,
my thinking was wrong,
the different ones
are often the most strong.

I know trans
and gender nonconforming people
started our movements,
won our freedoms.

I'm a man
and I want to be a free one.

I'm a man and I want to put a dress on."

The representation as a whole in this book is incredible and almost the entire spectrum of LGBTQ+ identities will find a piece of themselves within the pages. But it's not just an illuminating read just in regards to LGBTQ+ themes, but also racial themes and blackness.

"I always thought education
and money was going
to earn me respect,
but a successful black man
is a threat. Pulling me over
for driving a nice car.
This isn't what I wanted
for your moving day
but this is what it's like
to be black in this country
or anywhere in the world.
They interrupt our joy.
Our history. Our progress.
They know they can't stop
us unless they kill us
but they can't kill us all,
so you're living your life
and suddenly interrupted
by white fear or suspicion.
They fear sharing anything.
Our success is a threat."

Mike grapples with what it is to be part of multiple marginalised groups; of how his blackness and multi-racial identity undermines and intereacts with his queerness and vice versa. He fears how both will cause him to face prejudice and discrimination but simeutaneously wants to embrace them wholly as being part of who he is and who he is proud to be.

"I feel like Goldilocks;
trying to find a group of people
the perfect fit for me.
A group that's 'just right'.
I didn't feel black enough
for African Caribbean Society,
I didn't feel Greek enough
for Hellenic Society,
I didn't feel queer enough
for LGBT society
But I've got to find a group
that's just right for me."

The Black Flamingo is ultimately a story of pride; of being unapologetically and fiercely you no matter what. It's not just for LGBTQ+ people, it's for everyone, because it's not just a celebration of queerness, it's also a celebration of life, love and identity.

fatboob's review against another edition

5.0

5★
"If their skin or racialised features matter more to you than the person within, that’s racism. I can’t be your friend without calling this out. Your ignorance may be innocent but the racism is real. "
By far one of my favourite books.

tclement's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

christelisreading's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

bluejeepbaby's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

snehapednekar13's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

mulberrywizard's review against another edition

4.25

i wish i had this book when i was 13 and just beginning to figure out my queerness.

lifeinsilver's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

boooksforbreakfast's review against another edition

5.0

This book is amazing. The writing is beautiful. The big themes like racism, sexuality, identity ect. all were were described with so much emotion and it all felt so real. Loved it.

kidultreader's review against another edition

4.0

As this is written in verse, and I've not read any of those before, I thought it would be hard to get into. But this was just a really lovely and beautiful story on identity and self-discovery as a biracial gay teen who does drag.

There were some comments that felt off and I honestly feel like there were still unresolved stuff so it felt lacking towards the ending.