Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

87 reviews

devynreadsnovels's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Drug use, and Racism

anarmandameg's review

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, Bullying, Classism, Abandonment, Homophobia, and Sexual content

solnit_and_sebastian's review

emotional funny hopeful informative 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? No

5.0

Beautifully written in prose, Dean Atta's The Black Flamingo is the story of a young, queer, Jamaican and Greek Cypriot boy from London. The story carries through his first year at university, wherein Michael continues his journey of self-discovery, and learns more about new and old friends that challenges some aspects of his worldview. The intersection of Michael's identities, and how he relates to his family, friends, and the world through various lenses, are a primary focus of the book. Accessible, eloquent, and cathartic, I unreservedly recommend it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment and Homophobia

Minor: Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Bullying, Racism, and Alcohol

readingsofaslinky's review against another edition

emotional 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? No

5.0

So beautiful. The final pages had me crying. The perfect Bildungsroman.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Bullying, and Racism

lynxpardinus's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Bullying, and Racism

Moderate: Xenophobia, Pedophilia, Violence, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Abandonment, Cultural appropriation, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Racial slurs, Animal cruelty, Slavery, and Transphobia

helhas3letters's review against another edition

emotional 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Racism

Moderate: Bullying, Abandonment, Drug use, and Violence

Minor: Alcohol, Transphobia, Sexual content, and Police brutality

angietheace's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, and Bullying

Moderate: Drug use

Minor: Sexual content and Lesbophobia

lettuce_read's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Bullying, and Homophobia

hobbithopeful's review against another edition

emotional 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? No

5.0

Uplifting, emotional, and thought-provoking, I was swept away by the words and the story, and I wish it hadn't ended. I didn't even realize how much time had past until I looked at the clock wondering why there weren't more pages in this story. The Black Flamingo explores themes of identity, race, and sexuality. There is so much feeling in the pages, I don't know how to express the emotions that I went through while reading this. Michael is trying to figure out who he is, and where he fits in the world. It starts with him as a young child, and follows him as he goes to university and finally culminates in him doing Drag for the first time. I will read anything Dean Atta writes, and I wish I had read this sooner.

This is a MUST READ. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, and Racism

lycangrrl's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Drug use, Racism, and Homophobia