The Book They’re Trying to Ban: Mike Curato on Flamer

Flamer author and illustrator Mike Curato joins Unban Coolies for a powerful conversation about identity, queerness, faith, and surviving adolescence when the world tells you there is something wrong with who you are. Flamer has become one of the most frequently challenged books in America, appearing on the ALA’s Top 10 Most Challenged list, not because it is explicit, but because it tells the truth about a queer teen trying to stay alive.In this interview, Mike speaks openly about what it was like to revisit his own memories of shame, bullying, and suicidal ideation, and he also clears up the biggest misconceptions about the book including what it does and does not depict. He explains why fiction became a tool for protecting his younger self, how comics gave him a language when prose could not, and why representation for queer Asian youth is still urgently needed.Note that later in the conversation, Mike also talks about GAYASIANS, his new graphic novel for adult readers. The conversation itself is not explicit, but the book is intended for adults.This conversation is part of the Unban Coolies series, featuring authors whose work is targeted by censorship but deeply needed by young people seeking belonging, representation, and honesty.