Flamer by Mike Curato REVIEW

 Flamer

by Mike Curato

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Synopsis:

Award-winning author and artist Mike Curato draws on his own experiences in Flamer, his debut graphic novel, telling a difficult story with humor, compassion, and love.

I know I’m not gay. Gay boys like other boys. I hate boys. They’re mean, and scary, and they’re always destroying something or saying something dumb or both.

I hate that word. Gay. It makes me feel . . . unsafe.

It's the summer between middle school and high school, and Aiden Navarro is away at camp. Everyone's going through changes—but for Aiden, the stakes feel higher. As he navigates friendships, deals with bullies, and spends time with Elias (a boy he can't stop thinking about), he finds himself on a path of self-discovery and acceptance.

Review:

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing and Mike Curato for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is one of the best graphic novels I've ever read. The story really grabs you right in the feels. It made me laugh, and then it made me cry, and then it made me smile from the inside out.

Our main character of this story is Aiden. He is chubby, half Asian and just a little bit different. When the story takes place Aiden is at summer camp to enjoy his very last summer before high school. While calling Aiden a complete outcast would be a stretch, he does have his share of bullies to deal with. Throughout the book we watch as Aiden takes a journey of self discovery and learns what it means to accept yourself. 

The artwork in this graphic novel is so fitting to the story. The color scheme added that flare and really brought the fire aspect of the book to life. 

Overall, I love this book! It was touching. I think it will relate to a lot of tweens/teens who are going through similar situations.