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The Skin I'm In Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Skin I'm In


Maleeka Madison is a seventh grader and she attends McClenton Middle School. Maleeka has very dark black skin. She used to be proud of it, but when her father died, kids started picking on her. Her mother copes with the death by sews her outfits that are no where near “appealing” to the average teenager. 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, bring her clothes to school and Maleeka can begin to hang out hang out with her. Miss Saunders is a new teacher arriving into the school she too gets made fun of because she has a big blotch on her face, which is a birthmark. She doesn't let the other opinions or cruel words of the students bring her down though. She consistently tries to show the students that there's more to life then just failing school to get by.
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This new teacher acknowledges that Maleeka is a very intelligent girl and encourages doing extra literary exercises to improve her skills. Throughout the story Maleeka has an internal battle with her self about gaining self-confidence and to be more secure about herself. Can the memories of her father and the lessons of Miss Saunders go skin deep and help Maleeka shine for all that she Is? Not only does she try to impress everyone with her appearance but she also goes along with Char, and gets in trouble because she has no ability to say no and walk away. One day, Miss Saunders makes Char really mad, so Char makes her plan to get back at Miss Saunders, and it's going to be a good one she says. In the attempts to vandalize her classroom the room is accidentally set on fire.

The review of this Book prepared by Rachael




This story is about Maleeka Madison, a junior high school girl. For the first time she meets a new teacher Ms. Saunders, at this moment Maleeka feels good inside because she sees someone who is more ugly than her. After a while Maleeka started to dislike her, because she felt like Ms.Saunders was trying to insult her on many occasions. Maleeka is not an ordinary person, because of her color, she is very black in color. Her father died in an car incident, which made her feel even worst about her dark colored skin. To make things worst her mother sews her outfits to try and her mind off of the death. Her clothes are not right at all, so a popular girl named Charlese has agreed to be Maleeka's friend and give her clothes if she does her homework. Maleeka is forced to be bullied many times by Char, just because she wants her clothes to try and stand out in the crowd. Maleeka is a very intelligent girl and Ms. Saunders likes that about her so she tells Maleeka to continue with he journal writing which is very impressive. There's a boy named Celab that likes Maleeka very much, and in return Maleeka aslo likes him. There was an encounter on the school bus one day when Celeb was sitting next Maleeka, the kids started to tease her badly about her color that it forced Celeb to sit somewhere else. One day after coming from Char's house Maleeka takes a road that is very vacant, and is evenually bullied and almost raped by three white boys. She promised to tell her mother when she reaches home but is to scared and ashamed to even mention a word.
The review of this Book prepared by Vinecia Greenidge




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 father 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 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.
The review of this Book prepared by a Level 1 Blue Jay scholar

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.
The review of this Book prepared by Melissa



Chapter Analysis of The Skin I'm In

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Plot & Themes

Tone of book?    -   thoughtful Time/era of story    -   2000+ (Present Day) Kids growing up/acting up?    -   Yes Ethnic/Regional/Religion    -   Black people in America/Europe 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:    -   student Age:    -   a teen Ethnicity/Nationality    -   Black (American)

Setting

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

Books with storylines, themes & endings like The Skin I'm In

Sharon G. Flake Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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