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Flamer
Aiden Navarro (Filipino/white) is nervous about transferring from Catholic to public school in fall when he starts high school. For now, he’s happy to be at Boy Scout camp. He loves scout camp for the activities and camaraderie, and as a chance to be away from his unhappy home. Generally well-liked by other campers, Aiden takes some teasing in stride but meaner comments—racist and homophobic taunts he’s sadly familiar with—are hard. Despite an obvious crush on fellow camper Elias, Catholic Aiden is in denial about being gay. Elias, who’s been a terrific friend at camp, distances himself after Aiden—surprising them both—kisses him. The recent firing of a counselor because he’s gay, and the silence of Aiden’s best friend Violet, a devout Christian who hasn’t written back since Aiden hinted in a letter he might be gay, compound Aiden’s suddenly dark feelings and he seriously contemplates suicide. The “flamer” of this graphic novel’s title has obvious literal and symbolic meaning, but one of the enduring ones is “light,” not only because Aiden realizes that he is loved, cared for, and accepted for who he is when Elias, other campers, and Violet all come through, but because of the brightness of Aiden’s personality, which makes his deep sadness and feeling of hopelessness before he finds light all the more aching by contrast. This honest, ultimately affirming work features black-and-white illustrations punctuated with bursts of orange to great effect. ©2021 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Mike Curato
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 12 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Formats:
Graphic Novel
Novel
Subjects:
Asian Americans
Bullying and Teasing
Christian People
Denial
Depression
Faith, Spirituality and Religion
Families
Feelings/Emotions
Filipinos and Filipino Americans
Friendship
Gays
Hope and Healing
LGBTQ+ Persons
Multiracial Characters/Families
Suicide
Diversity subject:
Asian
Christian
LGBTQ Character/Topic
Publishers:
Henry Holt, Macmillan
Publish Year: 2020
Pages: 366
ISBN: 9781627796415
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 741.5 Curato