This was a wonderful novel in verse about a boy finding his own identity in a world where he never felt he was ever quite 100% anything. Michael fits into many different identity categories, some he chooses for himself and others are perceived by others. He's mixed-race, half Greek, half Jamaican, a half brother, gay but maybe not completely, of two different last names. Finding his whole identity is hard with so many halves and so many variables.

But once he finally gets to university, Michael becomes Mike and finds who he has always been. The Black Flamingo is born.

The poetry in this book delivers the raw emotion of one boy's search for identity. It doesn't shy away from homophobia and racism. I don't think I've ever read a drag queen origin story and it's so great for representation that this exists. It's not close to my story, but that doesn't mean I didn't need to read it.