Reviews

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

shayh's review against another edition

At times it felt like the author spoke through the characters to the audience in a preechy way. It did't make them sound distinct. 

Your readers can tell when a character faces the audience and preeches your views. It's not a bad thing to have your views in your books, but the way it happened here made it feel like a lyrical blog post. 

This happened when the mother spoke about "you're not half anything, you're a whole human," and when the uncle spoke about white fear of Black success. Both topics are valid to speak about anywhere (fiction, non-fiction, online, offline), but they came off in a blog post sort of way in a fictional story. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Outing

Minor: Lesbophobia and Racism

maimona's review against another edition

5.0

The only thing I didn't like about it: it was short!

I feel like this book has a different kind of voice than other books with LGBT themes.

love the cover! it fit just right to the feelings I got from the whole book.
You read about a small kid telling his day-to-day emotions and events, too pink, calm, and peaceful and gave good feelings!

The way he tells his story is so similar to little kids, I couldn't help but adore it!
he is so honest. Whenever he felt bad or did something wrong he told it with an honest heart with no mean or bad feelings behind it.

He is definitely one of my favorite MC in books. he is so charming courageous lovely and adorable:")
And love the fact that he knows exactly what he likes and what he hates - for a kid, it may be natural but things like this, shaped his personality and character.

RECOMMENDED! I just had a great time reading this book I am planning to check the author's other books! It was such a treat :)

weeohh's review against another edition

4.0

powerful + positive coming of age story DEVOURED.

robin_nescu's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring 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

5.0

cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars

I don't usually enjoy poetry books but this important book that needs to told/read.
Ending was amazing.

vanamo_sys's review against another edition

inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

maisonmarsiela's review against another edition

2.0

i had such high expectations for this book because so many people love it, but the writing fell very very flat for me. i love modern poetry and novels written in verse, and the writing in this book just lacked the depth i was expecting. definitely an important story, i just didn’t jibe with the writing.

btothebooks's review

funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

Such a unique book. There is both a timelessness to it, but also a lot that places it squarely in the 2000s that I liked without it being overt. Something that can be a really quick read but also pretty powerful. 

laticsexile's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

This is a brave book, full of wisdom and great poetry. Definite shades of Alice Oseman.

thepetitepunk's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars