Flamer

I know I’m not gay. Gay boys like other boys. I hate boys. They’re mean, and scary, and they’re always destroying something or saying something dumb or both.

I hate that word. Gay. It makes me feel . . . unsafe.

It's the summer between middle school and high school, and Aiden Navarro is away at camp. Everyone's going through changes- but for Aiden, the stakes feel higher. As he navigates friendships, deals with bullies, and spends time with Elias (a boy he can't stop thinking about), he finds himself on a path of self-discovery and acceptance.

Reader Fit: Recommended for readers who appreciate graphic novels that thoughtfully explore adolescence, identity, friendship, and the search for belonging.

Why We Carry It: We carry Flamer because it portrays the emotional complexity of questioning identity during adolescence while addressing bullying, masculinity, and acceptance with honesty and compassion. It invites readers to better understand experiences that many young people face but rarely discuss openly.