This was brilliant. There's something about novels written in verse that I just love. But Dean Atta's The Black Flamingo was another level. It felt powerful, and told a fast paced story that I just visualised so well. Michael's journey of discovery is empowering to read, and the style choices of the verses and some phrases really stick out and stay with you. Especially towards the end. It looks at themes of internalised racism as well as external racism, friendship, sisterhood, sexuality and coming of age. Set against a backdrop of multicultural and ethnic backgrounds, Atta writes about what it means to be seen by other people besides your family and knowing where you belong. Being you for you and celebrating that is one of the biggest messages that I take away from The Black Flamingo.