Greetings,
I want to talk to you about one of my favorite YA books thus far. The Skin I'm In, by Sharon G. Flake, is a realistic fiction novel about the growing pains of a girl at a struggling NYC middle school. Thirteen-year old Maleeka Madison holds low self-esteem about herself due to her looks and how she dresses. She has (as I describe it) a rich, deep-olive toned complexion that some love (Caleb, a mature, insightful young man that is interested in her) and some ridicule (John-John, her nemesis since second grade). She is extremely bright and adept at writing, as her new English teacher, Ms Saunders, discovers after Maleeka turns in a class assignment. The novel chronicles the development of a slave-narrative that she writes, in part for class, and in part as a way to cope with her life. Maleeka befriends the school bully in an effort to ease her struggles, but, it seems to only make matters worse. Ms. Saunders serves as a role model and mentor to Maleeka, although she immediately resists her because of the skin disorder on her face. However, Maleeka learns several life lessons thanks to the support of her teacher and others in her community that see bother her inner and outer beauty. This is a must for middle schoolers in an age of bullying and materialism; it drives the message home that we must learn to love and honor "the skin we are in". Highly recommended!
I want to talk to you about one of my favorite YA books thus far. The Skin I'm In, by Sharon G. Flake, is a realistic fiction novel about the growing pains of a girl at a struggling NYC middle school. Thirteen-year old Maleeka Madison holds low self-esteem about herself due to her looks and how she dresses. She has (as I describe it) a rich, deep-olive toned complexion that some love (Caleb, a mature, insightful young man that is interested in her) and some ridicule (John-John, her nemesis since second grade). She is extremely bright and adept at writing, as her new English teacher, Ms Saunders, discovers after Maleeka turns in a class assignment. The novel chronicles the development of a slave-narrative that she writes, in part for class, and in part as a way to cope with her life. Maleeka befriends the school bully in an effort to ease her struggles, but, it seems to only make matters worse. Ms. Saunders serves as a role model and mentor to Maleeka, although she immediately resists her because of the skin disorder on her face. However, Maleeka learns several life lessons thanks to the support of her teacher and others in her community that see bother her inner and outer beauty. This is a must for middle schoolers in an age of bullying and materialism; it drives the message home that we must learn to love and honor "the skin we are in". Highly recommended!
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