Acclaimed poet and performer Dean Atta’s coming-of-age novel follows Michael Angeli, a mixed-race gay teen in the U.K., as he wrestles with his Greek-Cypriot and Jamaican identity, as well as his burgeoning sexuality. Written in verse, Atta’s story examines the difficulties of finding love and community in white-dominated spaces. As Michael attends university, he discovers the power of drag. His drag persona, the Black Flamingo, is born one night, and helps Michael come to love his identity in all its complexities. Thought-provoking, moving and hopeful, Atta’s first YA novel was published in the U.S. in 2020 and won a Stonewall Book Award. —Madeleine Carlisle
Buy Now: The Black Flamingo on Bookshop | Amazon
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- Coco Gauff Is Playing for Herself Now
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- If You're Dating Right Now, You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time