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Mike Angeli is just trying to find where he belongs as he grows up. Then he finds his university‘s drag group.

This was charming. The poetry really worked for this coming of age story, while also examining identity through a mixed race and queer lens. That feeling of not being enough for any group. Atta‘s narration didn‘t really work for me, but the story as a whole was powerful and sweet. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

A vivid, satisfying coming of age story about a gay, mixed-race English boy building his identity. I'm not a fan of novels “in verse“ that really aren't, but this was so readable I liked it anyway... and there are some excellent poems included.

#QueerBC #HauntedShelf #FrightClub #31By31 #Spookoween

Repost for @PuddleJumper

October's author pick for #QueerBC is Dean Atta!

See original post at https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2776655

I loved this more than expected. Character driven, a true coming of age story. Readers learn to love Michael as he learns who he is and to love himself.

Presenting my summer stack. I never read them all or stick to it without adding others along the way, but it's good to have plans. #summertbr

I love audiobooks read by the authors themselves, and even though Dean Atta might need a bit more training, I felt really drawn into the story. It was intense to follow Mike on his way to find himself. Sometimes I lost track which minor character was which, but since this book is all about its message, this didn't really matter to me. I am also somewhat fascinated by the Drag world, so this really spoke to me.

#BookishMonopoly @AkashaVampie

I admit I at least 80% chose this for cover art. And there‘s nothing I specifically don‘t like about the book, it‘s just that halfway through I‘m still feeling super underwhelmed by everything except the cover art. Life‘s too short, I think I‘ll just keep looking at this picture and imagine what happens in the second half.

My next roll in the #BookishMonopoly lead me to the Treasure Chest. I did not really think about what this one would look like, but I went on and just scribbled all my planned books for 2024 on little notes and created a small Treasure Chest. @VaniBarelyReads then drew one of those and of course it had to be the Flamingo (little inside joke between us). So the Flamingo it is.

@AkashaVampie

Reading for a long standing (since Shelfari days!!!) virtual book group. Really, really enjoying this one. Dean Atta narrates and does a fantastic job.

50 pages in already going to be a good book

#bookspin July wrap up!!

Three bingos #bookspinbingo!
Got to my #doublespin but not my #bookspin. Will read it the next couple of weeks.
@thearomaofbooks

I do not recommend the audio, turns out you miss a lot since this is a multimedia book with illustrations.
Overall the story is well told, you can hear that the author is a poet in the cadence and tone .
Would recommend in physical form.
#Doublespin

That "destroyed by the first page" feeling ?

How I wish this was required reading for students today, especially in light of recent anti-LGBTQ poison slowly seeping into our schools. I imagine putting this book in the hands of so many angry school board members, and saying "THIS is what it means to grow up queer."

Thank you to the author for crafting a beautiful prose that any queer person can relate to, and that others can learn from ?

Beautiful and inspiring. Honest and clear. Sometimes I think poetry novels are better at getting to the heart of a character's feelings than prose ever could. I'm so happy to see Mike flamboyant and fierce and true to himself at the end. Such a flawless look at a young man discovering his identity, sexuality, creativity; encountering racism and homophobia and acknowledging the impact while not allowing it to define him. Magnifique.

"Don't let anyone tell you/that you are half anything...You are a full human/ being." ?

Such a great audiobook

Never seen a book with this award before. 🏆

Beautiful book

Started this last night and really loving it so far. Defo think this book will be an amazing read.

@Kenyazero my February update for #lgbtqbookbingo. I also found 2021 and I‘m filling that one out too 🤣. I love all the queer books!!!! 🌈🔥

Am I participating in three book bingos this month? Yes. Is this book on my book bingos? No. Am I reading it anyway? Yes.

#firstlinefridays @ShyBookOwl

A nice and cozy start to 2022 thanks to these two and a snowstorm. Really excited for my reading challenge and book club TBRs for this year. #lennox #huey #catsoflitsy

This was one of the books in my #fallswap package from @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
It‘s a novel in verse about Michael, a mixed race kid coming of age in London, trying to figure out who he is, and finally finding his voice in a drag club at university. I really enjoyed it.

This was beautifully done. Poetry built into a novel, or a novel in verse. I both listened to and physically read this book. Some of the parts/poems in this book were so moving, especially towards the end. I definitely cried!

This book is beautiful. You should read it.

1. I haven‘t been in a tent since college — RV or cabin.
2. Camp Slodown 🏕
3. Walden
4. My goal is to finish a book and read 1 hour a day.
#LitsySummerCamp

June has officially ended, so here‘s my monthly wrap up. Loving Amulet. Fave book is the tagged one.

#Booked2021 #PoetryOrWrittenInVerse
Michael, born in London of a Greek Cypriot mother and an absent Jamaican father, tells the story of his growing up, coming out & finding his voice in poetry & drag performance. Along the way he grapples with his own, and other people's, ideas about his identity. The writing was very YA, and not always obviously verse, but it raised some interesting points and overall I enjoyed it. A good one for audio. 👇

*4.5 stars*
THIS BOOK!! Ok so let me first start out by saying that this book is a masterpiece. It‘s written from a gay boy‘s POV, and as a gay person myself let me tell you this book was SO refreshing. It was the perfect balance of one liners and poems. It‘s a strong reminder of why it‘s is so important to love yourself first and it was honestly just such a good book.

Moving, honest, and heartfelt.

I had a couple of students this past year recommend this book to me, especially since I love books in verse. Glad I got to read this one in my short summer ! 🦩 The LGBT+ YA genre is a new one for me to read, and I love getting my student‘s input on their favorites !

Mmm. I‘m going to be the unpopular opinion here but this was only a middling reading experience. A bit wooden and text exchanges in the audiobook, complete with reading out emoticons, were tedious. Was hoping for more lyricism from this book in verse. It‘s a nice enough conveyance of memories but really nothing much happens except normal growing up challenges. And that‘s a good thing. That‘s progress for queer youth.

#queer

What an opener 😍

It was a quick short read. The Black Flamingo is the story of Mike and how he finds himself in doing drag. I enjoyed reading this. 4⭐️

To be honest this is a weak pick. I don‘t know what it is, but this story never pulled me in.

We met Michael mostly during his high school years and college. He‘s trying to find out who he is. He‘s gay, half Greek-Cypriot and Jamaican, but as his mom tells him “you can‘t be half anything, you can only be you” (not a direct quote from the novel). Michael feels that he‘s never enough of either.

#BookReport #WeeklyForecast

During the last week I suddenly realized that I had some books due back at the library that can‘t be extended, so I read the tagged book and started the one by Ernaux.

I started/ continued my buddy reads of Anne, Mansfield and the one by Faludi.

I started the last book in the Cromwell trilogy by Mantel.

In the upcoming week I hope to finish Ernaux and Mantel, and continue my buddy reads.

UPDATE: Finished Ernaux

This a very powerful book about finding yourself in such a cruel world. 🌟🌟🌟🌟 for me! #goodread #powerful #readmotebooks

This was such a good book in verse. I appreciated that the author narrated the audiobook! It was amazing seeing Micheal discover his Identity and just growing up. #ya #blackhistorymonth #bookinverse

“Remember, you have the right to be proud; remember, you have the right to be you.” - this line is everything . This is a beautiful coming out story. Michael uses his poetry to become the black flamingo. The truest expression of himself. This last year I came out as queer to my closest circle and I have been learning so much about myself. Everyday I change and grow and I am me. Not anything anyone wants me to be. Be you. Be proud . Read this book

For #IntegrateYourShelf, I picked a story of self-discovery. Discovering new parts about yourself to love is an important form of self-love. In this novel in verse, a teenager explores his mixed race gay identity through drag and learns to love the united parts of himself. #ValentinesDay

Going into this, I didn't realize it was a novel in verse. What a fun surprise! This book flows smoothly, and really captures the feelings of the main character. Mike is painted vividly in both narrative prose and poems written by the character. The book addresses many facets of identity and identity formation, especially related to LGBTQ+ identity, gender expression, and black identity. It also deals with homophobia and racism. #LGBTQ #Drag

It was a unexpected quick audiobook narrated by author. Intriguing and well written.especially liked the poetic parts. It‘s an YA and about racism.

“Your ignorance may be innocent, but the racism is real “ my fav quote. 3.5🌟

#audiobook #booked2021 #colourinthetitle #YA

“I am the black flamingo and the black flamingo is me trying to find myself “

#Firstlinefridays @ShyBookOwl #YA #colourinthetitle

I really enjoyed this one! I am particularly in love with The Black Flamingo‘s performance at the end of the book. The first half of the show was on fire, and the second half: whew! 🔥 🦩🦩🦩🦩🦩

Recommend for a quick read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️