Flamer by Mike Curato

This graphic novel is long overdue. This is a brutally honest look at male puberty, focusing on fourteen year old Aiden as he tries to navigate his unsure sexuality, body image, ideals of masculinity, family, friendship, and religion. While not every male reader will see himself in Aiden, he will see himself in one of the many male-types represented at Aiden's one week at summer Boy Scout camp.

Aiden is at Boy Scout camp the summer between Catholic middle school, and  public high school. Aiden loves summer camp, because it takes him away from a painful family and school life. As Aiden navigates through summer camp he discovers that many of the issues the world has thrown at him because he is "different," he will face at summer camp. His body image, lack of athletic ability, effeminate mannerisms, and dreams focusing on a member of his troop, render Aiden powerless when facing the bullying and mocking from fellow Scouts. Fortunately, some of his friends and leaders are not assholes, and show Aiden support.

Much of the story is drawn from Mike Curato's personal experiences. He expressed that when he was a teen in the 90's there weren't any books that mirrored who he was. Feeling marginalized and unimportant, he created Flamer to fill that gap. There was much I related to in this book. This is not all depressing. There is much humor here that will make you smile and remind you of similar experiences.

The art work is rough, with line having the texture of chalk. The drawings are simple but the characterizations and emotion come shining through. The black and white drawings are enhanced by orange and red spot color representing literal and emotional heat. The wide variety of panel shapes and composition, give the book a cinematic feel.

I highly recommend this for all YA collections. The language is real and natural given the age group and setting, but might be considered inappropriate for younger YA. The liberal me, that feels that there are many, even in middle school, that will need this book, would put it in my middle school library. A quote on the cover from Jerrett Krosoczka reads, "This book will save lives." I couldn't agree more.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 5

Reading Level: 3.2 • Interest Level: 9-12 • AR Points: 1.0 • Lexile Level: NA • Publisher: Henry Holt • Pages: 366 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-1-627-79641-5 

King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

Thirteen year old Kingston, or King, is grieving over the recent death of his sixteen year old brother Khalid. Seeing a dragonfly at his brother's funeral, he now believes his brother is embodied as a dragonfly. Every day he walks to the river to visit the dragonflies and his brother. His entire family has difficulty dealing with the grief, his father surprising him with an "I love you" as he drops King off for school. King dreams of his brother and recalls his brother's philosophical musings which are poetic, told with beauty and grace.

King's best friend, Sandy, confided in him that he likes boys, and he is gay. When King told his brother about Sandy he warned King that he cannot be friends with him, or others will think he is gay too. King is struggling with his own sexual identity and racism (King is Black, Sandy is white). King tells Sandy he can no longer be his friend and then reveals Sandy's secret to other friends. Sandy is now ostracized and ignored, Sandy's life is further complicated with a racist and homophobic father who is also the town's sheriff. Sandy follows King to the river, confronts King about their friendship and anger. King reveals his guilt and grief for his brother. The two part, but the next day Sandy is missing. King discovers Sandy in his tent, where he often goes when he needs to be alone. King and Sandy confide in each other, Sandy revealing abuse by his father and King his sexuality.

What follows is a deftly told story of King and his conflict with sexuality, race, and family. Callender beautifully weaves poetic prose to describe believable, real, characters, and the gradual growth of King learning to accept the loss of his brother, accept his own sexuality, and confront family to earn their acceptance. 

The confrontation with his father is particularly moving. In an exchange with his father, King has difficulty understanding why his father is needing some time to accept his sexuality. His father explains that he loves him, but "...it's hard. I've got all these ideas of what it means to be gay. Everything I was told by my father, and  my father was told before me, and I don't know if it's wrong or right, but I know I love you."  King has difficulty with this, asking "But why should it be so hard? Why do have to struggle with me being gay, but you don't struggle with me being Black?" His father tells him it is not the same thing. but King responds "It's the same sort of hate. The kinds of things people do or say because I'm Black feels like the kinds of things people do or say because I'm gay."

Some serious issues of grief, sexuality, and racism are handled perfectly for a middle school audience...but don't kid yourself, this is for everyone. A powerful ending that reassures that life will go on. Have some tissue handy.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 5

Reading Level: 4.9 • Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: 7 • Lexile Level: 830L• Publisher: Scholastic • Pages: 259 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-1-338-12933-5 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding