The Skin I'm In

Maleeka is in seventh grade and deals with bullies giving her a hard time about her clothes (sewn by her mother after her father's death) and her dark skin. Even her best "friend" Char is trouble, but Maleeka keeps her head down because Char's attention and changes of clothes are all that keep her from being picked on even more. But then a teacher with a light patch on her face who also draws the kids' attention takes an interest in Maleeka. Will she be able to fit in her own skin and stand up to the bullies?

Though the book originally came out over 20 years ago, its themes of accepting yourself and standing up for what's right are just as relevant as ever. Maleeka's doubt, fear, and gradual growth unfold naturally in the course of this show more quiet, character-driven story. show less

Junior high school student Maleeka Madison is black…to black for some students’ tastes. They tease her mercilessly. She’s teased for her clothes, which her mother makes for her, and her skin color so steadily that she has taken to hanging with the school bully, Charlese. Charlese loans Maleeka clothing as long as Maleeka does her homework and whatever else she wants her to do, all while being extremely rude to her. But, their lives change when a new English teacher enters the picture.

This is a great story about self-esteem issues. It would be great for both male and female students to read. For females, it shows how to better view ourselves in terms of confidence. And, for males, it shows that teasing females gets you nowhere and show more they never know what kind of negative effects their actions are causing. And, I have to add, most of the time boys tease girls, it is because they actually have crushes on the girls but know no other way to be noticed (like John-John). One can always see Maleeka’s story as a cautionary tale. There was absolutely nothing wrong with her, but she let other people change her perception of herself.

I really liked the story. It was a quick read to me because I didn’t want to put it down after I got into it. I felt bad for Maleeka because I can relate to how she felt on certain issues. No, my mother never made my school clothes, but I was teased when I was younger for being too dark-skinned. I had to learn to block out what everyone else thought and be more comfortable with myself. I could not stand seeing Char’s name anywhere on the pages because she was that irritating to me. But you have to realize that she was just a product of her environment. She was practically raising herself because all her sister did was party and she had already failed the seventh grade three times. There was nobody to care about her well-being, so I think she took her frustrations out on everyone else and she hated seeing others happy. This was evidenced by her breaking up Daphne and Worm, only to toss Worm aside. I genuinely like Miss Saunders and her ideas; she captured the minds of her students and forced them to work hard and apply themselves. What Char and her minions did to Miss Saunders was completely uncalled for, and I hate Maleeka had to take the fall for them. I do not want to reveal the story, but Maleeka certainly grew up over the course of this novel and she may have even found true love with Caleb! I’d love for there to be a part two to this book! show less

The Skin I’m In follows 12-year-old Maleeka Madison as she navigates middle school insecurities, peer ridicule about her homemade clothes, and harsh scrutiny over her dark skin. Everything shifts when a new teacher—Miss Saunders, whose own face bears a startling white birthmark—encourages Maleeka to embrace self-love. With sharp dialogue, emotional authenticity, and a powerful message about identity and acceptance, Sharon Flake delivers an important and timely coming-of-age story. Jason Reynolds contributes a thoughtful foreword to this anniversary edition.

tw | bullying, colorism, sexual harassment

i read this book in 7th grade. my English teacher had a white savior complex and wanted to be both ms saunders and the woman from freedom writers. I will admit I am grateful she let us read this book. i first heard of this book in 5th grade and was afraid to read it. i've read it multiple times as an adult and seeing maleeka going from this scared and jaded girl to someone confident with so much hope and a growing voice still gives me hope that things will get better with the right guidance and with time. i loved her mother and how she believed in her daughter and was so soft with her but also knee when to be strict even if she was struggling with her own grief. i can wait to revisit this show more universe when "the family i'm in" comes out. show less

Maleeka Madison is desperately trying to blend into the middle school wood work. The nail that stands out gets pounded, and Maleeka has plenty to pound-- no money, homemade clothes, book smarts and good grades and, impossible to hide, very black skin. She is at exactly the age when so many girls lose their confidence and Maleeka learns to avoid, live with, deal with the bullying by becoming "friends" (minions) with her main tormentor Charlese Jones who bestows favors and humiliations at her whim. Her reputation and grades and self esteem suffer because of the association, but to Maleeka's thinking-- this is the best deal she can get..until Ms. Saunders shows up. A career changer with ideas and attitude, Saunders isn't like the other show more teachers and she is not having it. She sees the potential in Maleeka and she encourages her--over and over again--to love herself and have pride and be who you want to be--not who you think you have to settle for. Aim higher!
A great book for middle schoolers-boys as well as girls--i found it fast paced and well written and real--no one is perfect here--the characters are complex and nuanced just like in real life and this is a good book that teens will identify with and eat up. Similar in theme and in teen popularity to Anne Schraff's Lost and Found (Bluford Series) The Skin I'm in is far superior with complex and well developed characters and plot lines, as well as a much better, and more realistic examination of the issues bullying and low self esteem. A Coretta Scott King Award winner. Highly recommended. show less

Maleeka is tired of being teased because her skin is so dark, but when a new teacher arrives at school that has a white patch on her face, Maleeka thinks maybe Ms. Saunders has it worse than she does. As she tries to navigate school, Maleeka hides behind a popular girl, remaining her friend by doing her homework and borrowing her clothes. Slowly, though, under the influence of Ms. Sanders, Maleeka starts to see that she has worth when she finds courage enough to get a more natural hairstyle and begins writing a fictional diary of a girl that has been captured into slavery, making her way in a ship across the Atlantic. However, Maleeka's problems get worse before they get better.

The Skin I'm In is a very timely novel even though it was show more written more than 20 years ago. The issues that the characters face in this book are not only include dealing with race but also with just being a kid in middle school. The slave girl's diary entries that Maleeka writes are not only insightful, but they also mirror the feelings and experiences that most affect Maleeka in the present. Overall, The Skin I'm In is a serious story that reflects serious issues. show less

A very good book. I think it was a little like Freedom writers ~ talking about a new teacher in a rough school who dresses too nice and causes trouble without realizing what she's doing.

But, it only told the story from one point of view (where Freedom writers is a whole classroom of diary entries) and I liked that about this book. You really got into Maleeka's life.

I thought the discussion about Romeo and Juliet was amazing. That loving someone so much that you can't live without them (that you crumble when you lose them) isn't good for anyone. I like that this book was inspiring.