Allreaders.com
Author Sharon G. Flake booklist (click here)

Book Review By Melissa
The Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake

This book is the story of a seventh grader named Maleeka. Maleeka has very dark black skin. She used to be proud of it, but when her fahter died, kids started picking on her. Char, the most popular girl in the grade, makes a deal with Maleeka that if she does her home work, Char will stick up for her, and Maleeka can hang out with her. A new teacher arrives, Miss Saunders. She too gets made fun of because she has a big blotch on her face, which is a birth mark.

Maleeka goes along with Char, and gets in trouble. Maleeka ends up having to work in the office. Then, a boy starts liking Maleeka, Caleb. But, then he stops talking to her because everyone is making fun of them. One day, Miss Saunders makes Char really mad, so Char drags Maleeka along and they go to the school, up to Miss Saunder's class room. Char makes Maleeka light the room on fire and runs away, leaving poor Maleeka to get caught

. Maleeka takes the blame at first, but then tells on Char. In the end, Maleeka and Caleb are back together and Maleeka is friends with Miss Saunders. Also, Char gets expelled and sent to a new school.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 2000+ (Present Day)
Kids growing up/acting up? Yes
Ethnic/Regional/Religion
Is this an adult or child's book? - Age 11-14
Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes
Age group of kid(s) in story: - grade school
Wild kid(s)? - committing crimes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - a teen
Profession/status:
Eccentric/Smart/Dumb: Yes
Eccentric:
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - below average

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 ()
United States Yes

Writing Style
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Back To Main Menu