The black flamingo / Dean Atta ; with illustrations by Anshika Khullar.

Michael waits in the stage wings, wearing a pink wig, pink fluffy coat and black heels. One more step will see him illuminated by spotlight. He has been on a journey of bravery to get here, and his is almost ready to show himself to the world in bold colours... can her emerge as The Black Flamingo?

Fiercely told, this is a powerful coming-of-age story told in verse, from one of the UK's leading poets, Dean Atta. Perfect for fans of Sarah Crossan and Poet X.A boy comes to terms with his identity as a mixed-race gay teen - then at university he finds his wings as a drag artist, The Black Flamingo. A bold story about the power of embracing your uniqueness. Sometimes, we need to take charge, to stand up wearing pink feathers - to show ourselves to the world in bold colour.

London : Hodder, [2020]

356 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm

First published in Great Britain in 2019 by Hodder and Stoughton.

Stonewall Book Award, Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award, 2020.