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1158781

Dr. Kellen Bolt

ENG 101-401

December 09, 2024

Why Restricting Flamer Is a Mistake: Its Positive Impact on Suicide Prevention.

“It needs to be called by its name: pornography, trash. And we fund it, and it needs to be

stopped,” says Yvette Benarroch, a mother concerned about what she considers inappropriate

content in public schools. This statement reflects a critical stance towards books like Flamer, a

graphic novel that addresses complex and sensitive issues such as sexual identity, bullying and

teenage suicide. Although some people believe that these topics are harmful, as they can be

difficult for some parents to understand, those of us who support stories like Flamer believe that

they are necessary, as they reflect real problems that many teenagers face. Flamer tells the story

of Aiden, a 14-year-old boy who, in the middle of a summer camp, begins to discover his sexual

identity, struggling to recognize his attraction to other boys of the same sex. Aiden faces a hostile

environment, where he experiences bullying and rejection, which leads him to question his worth

and to think that life is not worth continuing. Author Mike Curato shows how one can overcome

this difficult time by finding love and support from our family, friends, and most of all, accepting

and loving our identity. Flamer is a powerful tool to prevent tragedies like suicide, which is often

the result of bullying and lack of emotional support, so public schools should not restrict Flamer

because many teens need these stories to prevent suicide among teens who are bullied.
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Although Flamer is criticized by parents and politicians for its explicit depiction of

homosexuality, the book offers an important message about the importance of self-knowledge

and emotional support. Throughout the work, Curato addresses deeply human and relevant topics

such as sexual identity, bullying, and mental health. Aiden is a teenager who discovers he is gay

in an environment filled with societal pressures and rejection, making him feel insecure about his

own worth and future. The novel illustrates how sexual identity is not only an internal matter, but

also an emotional battleground when faced with rejection from others. In this book, common

issues that teenagers go through are discussed, such as societal pressure, confusion about

identity, and difficulty communicating with family and friends. An example seen within the book

is how Aiden is unable to communicate with his father due to him being hostile and violent,

which affects his communication with both him and his mother. Although his mother talks to

Aiden, she often asks him for advice, which puts him in an awkward position where Aiden is

unable to share his own problems. These types of situations, experienced by teenagers, are

common and can be emotionally draining. In Flamer, this dynamic is illustrated in a way that

allows readers to understand how these moments affect the well-being of young people. By

presenting these types of conflicts, the book not only allows those facing these situations to

relate, but also helps others develop empathy and understand the difficulties their classmates

might be going through.

Through Aiden’s experiences, Flamer demonstrates how bullying, especially related to

sexual orientation, can drive teens to a point of despair, even making them consider suicide. Not

only does this type of bullying affect young people’s self-esteem, but it can also isolate them

socially, making them feel like they have no safe place in the world. Bullying and teen suicide

are serious and real issues that, despite their seriousness, are not addressed in the necessary depth
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in schools. According to Walden University, suicide is the third leading cause of death among

young people aged 10 to 24, underscoring the urgency of addressing these issues in educational

contexts. In addition, 8 percent of high school students have reported attempting to take their

own life in the past 12 months, and many of these cases are linked to bullying and discrimination

they face in their environment. The emotional impact of bullying is devastating, especially when

it is related to such fundamental aspects as personal identity. The book expresses this problem as

moments where Aiden is rejected by his friend Elias which makes him feel very depressed.

Aiden reaches such a point of desperation and lack of support which makes him believe that he is

worthless and that he should not be part of the world anymore. This approach allows readers to

understand the impact of these situations on the mental health of adolescents and how bullying

can create a spiral of despair, especially when there is no solid support system in the immediate

environment. In addition, the book shows that bullying does not only occur among peers but is

also supported by the lack of intervention of adults, who, in many cases, are not prepared to

address these dynamics. This detail emphasizes the need for greater education and awareness in

schools on how to prevent and manage bullying. Flamer is a powerful tool to visualize the

consequences of bullying.

Despite its relevance and ability to touch on fundamental issues and foster understanding

of these topics among students to create respect and empathy, Flamer has been the subject of

controversy. Critics such as Moms for Liberty and Governor DeSantis in Florida oppose its

inclusion in public schools arguing that the book is inappropriate due to its explicit depictions of

homosexuality and the emotional conflicts that Aiden goes through. They call it “pornographic”

and “harmful” to teenagers. These critics believe that the content of the book “corrupts young

people,” suggesting that stories about sexual identity and acceptance may confuse teenagers
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rather than help them better understand themselves. Conservative Governor DeSantis literally

calls it garbage and argues that these types of books should not be in schools. These people

consider that these books deal with topics that are too complex for students, especially those who

come from conservative or religious backgrounds, where homosexuality is seen as a taboo

subject.

Instead, Mike Curato and Flamer’s defenders argue that this book is not obscene and that

the story offers a valuable representation of the emotional struggles faced by teenagers,

especially those who feel excluded or marginalized. In an interview with Pen America, Curato

emphasizes that “Flamer is a book about suicide prevention. It’s a book about telling someone

that regardless of how much someone might disagree with who you are as a person, you still

deserve to be here. There is a place for you, and no one has the right to take it away from you.”

This message is powerful and necessary, particularly in a context where many young people do

not find support in their environment and need to feel validated and accepted as they are. In my

view, Flamer should not only be in schools but is also essential to promote acceptance of

ourselves and our classmates. The book has the potential to educate and sensitize students to the

struggles others face in silence, helping to build a more empathetic and respectful environment.

In my experience, teenagers are already exposed to issues of identity and sexuality, whether

through conversations, media, or their own experiences. Therefore, the scenes and themes in

Flamer are not only age-appropriate, but also necessary to open dialogues that are often avoided.

Arguments that the book is “pornographic” are invalid. The scenes that some critics point out as

inappropriate are not explicit or sensational; rather, they are depicted in a realistic and respectful

way, focusing on Aiden’s internal and emotional conflicts rather than graphic details. These

moments reflect situations that many teenagers already understand and face, and in no way cross
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the boundaries into content that would be exclusively for adults. In this sense, the importance of

Flamer lies in its ability to normalize difficult but necessary conversations about identity,

acceptance, and mental health. More than just a controversial book, it is an educational tool that

can save lives by showing teenagers that they are not alone, that their feelings are valid, and that

there is always a place for them in the world. Ignoring or censoring these stories perpetuates

isolation and stigma, something that we as a society cannot allow.

In conclusion, Flamer is a crucial book for schools, as it proves to be a potentially life-

saving tool by tackling sensitive yet vital topics such as bullying, mental health, and sexual

identity. Through Aiden’s experiences, the story shows the devastating effects of bullying and

the importance of support and self-acceptance in preventing tragedies such as suicide. By

presenting realistic and relatable scenarios, Flamer fosters understanding and empathy among

students, breaking down barriers of stigmatization and isolation. This matters because, in a world

where many teens struggle in silence, books like Flamer can provide the representation and

validation they need to feel seen and valued. Rather than restricting this powerful story, schools

should embrace it as a resource to educate and empower students, promoting acceptance and

support that can make a lasting difference in their lives.

1464 Words
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Worked Cited:

Curato, Mike. Flamer. Henry Hold and Company, 2020.

Galt, Claire. “Gov. DeSantis Calls out “Explicit” Book Found in Collier County High Schools.”

WINK News, 9 Mar. 2023, winknews.com/2023/03/08/explicit-content-found-in-school-books/.

Tolin, Lisa. “Banned in the USA Spotlight: Mike Curato.” PEN America, 25 Apr. 2023,

pen.org/mike-curato-flamer-interview/.

Walden University. “10 Facts About Teen Suicide Every Psychiatric Nurse Should Know.”

Walden University, 22 Oct. 2022, www.waldenu.edu/online-masters-programs/master-of-

science-in-nursing/msn-psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-practitioner/resource/ten-facts-about-

teen-suicide-every-psychiatric-nurse-should-know.