Flamer

This book is almost 400 pages long, but it absolutely does not feel like it. It’s one of the most riveting and absorbing books I’ve ever read, in part because of its relatively simple art style and small number of words per page.

It stars Aiden, a teenager who struggles with homophobia and suicidal thoughts as he comes to realize that he’s gay. So much of the dialogue and behavior in this book resonated with my own teenage experiences dealing with toxic “bros,” who made me feel like coming out would be an unsafe thing to do.

Curato creates an… show more.

Author Jarrett J. Krosoczka said it perfectly: “This book will save lives.” That’s the power an LGBTQIA+ story can have, and that’s why this book is so important to me, because I believe that too. Fourteen-year-old Aiden Navarro is an iconic character you'll never forget in this graphic novel that’s touching, raw, and truthful. I fell in love with Aiden and the entire Flaming Arrow Patrol during their final week at Boy Scout camp. Unfortunately, it’s the last place a misfit like Aiden would want to come out, especially after rumors fly that his favorite counselor was fired for being… show more.

Growing up in the 60s and 70s I never saw a character like me in a book. I finally found that character in Flamer. If you ever wondered what it’s like to be queer, closeted, chubby, and bullied—or if you experienced it yourself—then you need to meet Aiden Navarro. If you remember a first crush who broke your heart and crushed your spirit or felt you couldn’t go on until you found out you could, then you might just see yourself in the pages of this book, too.