This was an excellent introductory non fiction novel about the important queer figures of the Harlem Renaissance. As a Queer Black New Yorker there was a lot I didnt know and I listened to the audiobook twice to take notes. This is an important foundational work for Queer Black Scholarship.

Thank you to Macmillan; Farrar, Straus, and Giroux; and NetGalley for the eGalley to review!

Flamboyants is more than just a series of essays about influential and prominent figures of the Harlem Renaissance, it is a love letter to the rich history of Black queer culture and excellence. George M. Johnson gives us poetry inspired by this era in time, along with their personal experiences and unfiltered thoughts and philosophies about the lives of these icons and the reception they received by society, particularly regarding their queerness. In each essay, Johnson relays how relative these issues are still today and what readers can do to reconsider their perspective and behavior regarding them. This is a powerful and positive resource for teens, especially Black and queer teens, but also for adults.

This is easily one for the collection and a must-read.

I never know how to review non-fiction, but this one needs to be done. This book was so good. I learned so much about these people that I thought I had already known. I hope y’all pick this one up.

So the coolest part of this book is hard to pinpoint. I want to say its the colorful pages and the illustrations. Because Lordt they are gorgeous. But in reality, I really believe its the narration. It was narrated by the author who did an amazing job. I’m not a huge fan of non-fiction, but I can’t deny this one made me sit still and listen to this one non-stop. It was so good!

The subject itself was also very cool. I loved this because even though I knew some of these things, there were still things that I didn’t know. And that was amazing. So don’t ever let people tell you that you can’t be an adult that learns from YA books. Because Lordt knows I Googled a lot when I finished this book lol And really, this is something I never thought about, mainly because I’ve always been so upset that they always talk about the same Black people from history. But LGBTQ+ people deserved to know their heroes too, so I love that Johnson gave this gift to today’s teens.

This is a short one tho! Its only 2 hours and its a quick read! I hope that y’all pick this up. It’s good and short but hella informative. You don’t want to miss this one.

Johnson is a wordsmith and they will always be an auto-buy author for me. In Flamboyants, they focus on short biographies on queer artists from the Harlem Renaissance - a few I was aware of, and a few I was not. Each short biography informs the reader about the person and how they fit in the queer community - and how it affected their art - as well as why it is important to embrace their queerness. The text also includes poems and personal stories by Johnson and art by Charly Palmer (cannot wait to see the finished product.) This book is perfect for anyone who would like to have an introduction into queer history and the Harlem Renaissance. The only negative - the book was not long enough, but it has a great "Recommended Reading" section with a bibliography including video and texts that will expand the stories of each highlighted artist. I cannot recommend Johnson's work enough and look forward to their next project.

In this nonfiction collection of essays, George M. Johnson takes us through 1920s Black America. They celebrate writers, performers, and activists whose sexualities have been obscured throughout history. Paired with illustrations from Charly Palmer, Johnson shows us how Black and Queer history has informed the present.

Thanks to Farrar, Straus, and Giroux and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Flamboyants by George M. Johnson to review! Nonfiction isn’t always my jam, but I’ll make an exception for George M. Johnson. Especially paired with these gorgeous illustrations!

This book is such an excellent introduction to the Harlem Renaissance, through the eyes of Black queer creators. The series of narrative essays are punctuated with verse throughout, making the entire book an immersive experience. You can tell that Johnson did their research, with more context included at the end of the book.

This would be a great jumping off point for teens or kids looking to do research in this era, with the inclusion of some people I had never heard of before. As always, Johnson’s prose will keep you hooked throughout, and the tone works perfect for the targeted age group.

If you’re looking for an interesting nonfiction to add to your TBR this fall, definitely check this one out!

Filled with frank (and often funny, I adore Johnson’s voice) facts and observations and absolutely stunning art, I learned more about the Harlem Renaissance in these 150 pages than any classroom.

Beautiful and informative and will absolutely have a place on my shelf.

George M. Johnson's "Flamboyants" celebrates forgotten Black LGBTQ+ figures of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance. Fourteen essays, infused with Johnson's witty voice, reveal their impact on American culture. Stunning art complements insightful stories, offering a fresh perspective on this artistic era. While some biographies left me wanting more, the book's accessibility makes it a perfect introduction for young readers. While some personal anecdotes felt tangential, "Flamboyants" remains a captivating and transformative read.

I really enjoyed this YA Black queer history. I learned a lot and definitely will recommend to shoppers.