Memoirs are their own myths, and in this memoir, Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton leans into this myth-making. By blurring the lines between straight ahead recounting and speculative fiction Mouton pens new fables centered around the experiences of Black women.

I think this book is best read a little bit at a time to allow breathing room for reflection. The writing is fierce and dense. Each word has heft. This book is the opposite of fluff — even at its most dreamy. While exploring beyond the limits of reality, Mouton remains entirely truthful

I received a digital advance reader copy from NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company in exchange for an honest review.

Black Chameleon: Memory, Womanhood, & Myth by Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton tells readers exactly what they are in for in the title. Deborah Mouton is Houston's first Black poet laureate and her craft is apparent in her storytelling approach. This is a memoir written in poetic language that uses literary devices such as magical realism and mythmaking to create a narrative around the author's life experiences as a Black woman.

In the tradition of Audre Lorde's Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, Mouton has written her own personal mythology, or biomythology. In her Afterword she also highlights the work of writers such as Maxine Hong Kingston and myths such as the myth of Momotaro in Japanese folklore to share with her readers where her inspiration came from. I really enjoyed the writing style of this memoir and the ways Mouton integrates established myths from the African diaspora to help readers make connections between our history as a people and her own coming of age journey.

This beautiful story shares relatable moments of Black girlhood such as getting your first hair relaxer, falling in love with your first crush, getting disciplined by your parents all juxtaposed with insights about our own ancient myths and folklore across cultures. There are references to Greek mythology that many readers will also pick up on which layers this narrative with deep meaning for the reader who enjoys learning more!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!

In Black Chameleon, Mouton brings forth a novel and interesting addition to the memoir genre; she weaves together creative nonfiction and magical realism to seamlessly switch between describing events in her own life and imagined additions to them and then to original fables/myths that she has created pertaining to the specifically Black American experience (as opposed to the experience of a non-American Black person). I found her prose lyrical, beautiful, heartbreaking, hard to read at times, and overall well worth reading. Would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley to providing me an ARC.