Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Skin I'm In

4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 · rating details · 5,084 ratings · 831 reviews

Miss Saunders, whose skin is blotched with a rare skin condition, serves as a mirror to Maleeka Madison's struggle against the burden of low self-esteem that many black girls face when they're darker skinned. Miss Saunders is tough and through this, Maleeka learns to stand up to tough-talking Charlese.

Paperback, 176 pages

Published January 1st 2000 by Jump At The Sun (first published October 16th 1998)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

DCPL's Teen Urban Drama Booklist

4th out of 42 books — 74 voters

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird by Christopher Sergel

YA Books With Minorities

32nd out of 164 books — 96 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Mar 04, 2009 Eloiza rated it 3 of 5 stars

So far in this book everybody at school is making fun of Maleeka because of her nappy hair and her raggy old clothes. John-John is being racist to her and singing a song about her "Maleea Maleeka we sure wanna keep her but she is so black we can't see her".
Maleeka thinks the new teacher Miss Sunders will make things worse, all the teachers don't like her because she's too pushy.
When Maleeka was coming home one night two guys tried to kipnaped her but she scratched one of the guys eyes and bit th...more

7 likes · like · see review

Dec 01, 2008 Michelle/Cnca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Any Hernandez

Number of Pages: 171
Level of Book:Y
Day I Started Reading It:9-28
Day I Finished The Book:9-28
Main Characters: Maleeka,Charlese,Ms.Saunders,Caleb,and Makeeka's Mom
This book is about a girl named Maleeka who hates the skin shes in(the title makes it obvoius). People are always making fun of her. They also make fun of her homemade clothes. Her mom started making her clothes since her father died. This new teacher comes along with a big scar in her face. Maleeka thinks that the new teacher is going t...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 14, 2009 4RodSheÉa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is about a girl named Maleeka who is very dark skin and thinks that she is not beautiful because of the color of her skin. But when her father died she stop believing that she was beautiful and kids started picking on her. In the seventh grade a girl named Char who is the most popular girl in the grade told Maleeka that if she did her homework Char would stick up for her, let her hang with her, and give better looking clothes because Maleeka's mom made her clothes. And there is this on...more This book is about a girl named Maleeka who is very dark skin and thinks that she is not beautiful because of the color of her skin. But when her father died she stop believing that she was beautiful and kids started picking on her. In the seventh grade a girl named Char who is the most popular girl in the grade told Maleeka that if she did her homework Char would stick up for her, let her hang with her, and give better looking clothes because Maleeka's mom made her clothes. And there is this one boy that likes her his name is caleb, and girls loved him. Including Maleeka but she thought that she wasn't good enough for him and that's where she is wrong.

Maleeks faces going to school feeling like an outcast because voice's just laugh and talk about her behind her back and in front of her face. On day a teacher comes in and she too gets picked on because she has this big black mark on her face which is a birth mark. So she starts to get more envolved with Maleeka because she can feel her pain. One day Char gets into trouble and drags Maleeka so now Maleeka has to work in he office.

While working in the office Caleb starts liking her and wants to be her friend but he cant even do that because everybody talks about them and so he stops talking to her and try's too avoid even looking her way so people dont think that they are envolved with eachother. Later on Char makes Maleeka set Miss Saunders class on fire and bailing on her leaving little Maleeka to take the blame. Maleeka have a journals and where it is her own fantasy where it is inspried by her life. Where she is an ugly princess. Who have been locked away in cave looking and smellig like se haven't taken a shower inwho knows what, and teeth and breath stanking, and is basiclly bald headed not literally. And the prince who too is stuck with her and he likes her for who she is no matter what she may look like. Miss Saunders likes her journal writings and tells her to do more of it and dont be afraid to go out there.

Oe day Charlease comes over to Maleeka house and tell's her to come with her over a friends house. Maleeka not feeling so sure but she goes anywhere because she wants to seem cool. So goes to this neigborhood thats worse than hers. Char doesn't even pay attention to her and winds up abandoning her and now Maleeka isn't sure that where she is going is the right way she is going. It's so dark and there are three white boy's walking around taunting her and they almost raped her but she got away. Wanting (going) to tell her mom but when she gets there she cant even spaek because of the way she feels.

To all come down to the end Maleeka is getting fed up with Char. Char tells her to do something and Maleeka leaves her hangig justlike she does her, pay back. Caleb has an epiphany of his own. And doesn't care what people say about him and Maleeka hanging around eachother because he enjoys being aound her. So Char's misdeeds catches up with her and she gets kicked out. And having 2 new friends Saunders and Caleb, possibly her new boyfriend. Things are looking pretty good for Maleeks's new beginng.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Feb 12, 2013 Daniel Feldman rated it 1 of 5 stars

The Skin I'm In.......hmmmmm.....No. The Skin I'm In has a great plot. Good characters, good concept, good life lessons, but is just executed horribly. THE WHOLE ENTIRE BOOK IS ABOUT THE CHARACTERS NOT THE PLOT!!!! 75% of this book is focusing on the personality of the characters and their minor issues. Finally, the author starts tying the plot into the story and 10 pages later the book is over. Ladies and gentleman of goodreads, let me tell you I was not satisified. I literally looked around my...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 13, 2009 3Shani H. rated it 5 of 5 stars

as brewd and amoral human beings we are bound to make mistakes and be judged by our natural flaws and more less our intuitions, we may change for the better and or the worse, nevertheless some cases may be prominent distincts of our own natural apperance or habits. constintly trying to fit in, you must unconquerably love yourself for you no matter how you walk talk or look.

meet Maleeka a seventh grader at williamson Jr. high, Maleeka came from an destitute family and religious backround. she cam...more as brewd and amoral human beings we are bound to make mistakes and be judged by our natural flaws and more less our intuitions, we may change for the better and or the worse, nevertheless some cases may be prominent distincts of our own natural apperance or habits. constintly trying to fit in, you must unconquerably love yourself for you no matter how you walk talk or look.

meet Maleeka a seventh grader at williamson Jr. high, Maleeka came from an destitute family and religious backround. she came up without a father so it was only her and her mother. Maleeka had a lack of demeanor compared to the average teenager, her mother sowed all her clothes and she only owned one pair of socks , thats only the subordiante and artificial problem what really botherd her was the lack of respect she recieved while walking down the depth and shallow halls of her school, all because of her complexion. Maleeka's skin was dark and smooth like and baby's bottom, she was tall and skinny as a toothpick with pretty big brown eyes that was round like the moon. no one seemed to notice the good things she had going for her like her smarts or her pretty hair and flawless smile her skin got the worse of her most of all for her conspicious attitude. she only wanted to be like the rest of the girls.

the torture that came her way was ridiculos people would poor water in front of her locker so she would trip and fall. the would force her to do their homework and if it wasnt completed it was major prices to pay. she earned tons of nicknames like blackberries, poop face and charcol Maleeka that she described as deep cut scars that can mark her physically and mentally. maleeka was religious like her mother she was sanctified in Christianity she would run in the stalls of the girls bathroom and just pray and cry. the pain she felt was intense and chronic to her ears and heart Maleeka stayed to her self she had no choice , she also had a crush on the basketball teams number one leader Caleb. but caleb would follow the crowd and betray her also.

Charlese Boons a.k.a Char walked and owned the halls of Willamson J.high even the teachers was threatend by her. Char was short and thicker than a snicker she never missed a meal and you could tell. she was a gorgeous smile and wore braids that her back , Char stayed up with the latest trends in fashion everyone was scared of her even her crew. besides apperance Char wasn't doing so good she gotten left back two times she was 15 years old. one day she approached Maleeka and wanted her to start hanging with her but little did Maleeka know it was only for her to do Char's make up work so she could get promoted to her right grade in return Char would bring Maleeka The newest outfits and lunch.Maleeka and Char have gotten close by now and she told Char about her crush on Caleb and Char went behind maleeka's back and went out with caleb. It ,broke Maleeka's heart when she found out and in the end Maleeka stop being with Char it wasn't worth the headache she returned all her clothes and accessories.

Being judged by something artificial is one thing but being judged by something that comes naturally is another, always be yourself and love yourself no matter the flaws that stand in they way. I LOVE THE SKIN IM IN

(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Sep 17, 2008 Ms. Montaño rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: mostly young middle school girls

Recommended to Ms. Montaño by: Ms. McManus

The Skin I'm In is a book about a middle school girl named Maleeka Madison who is teased because of her dark skin complexion. She is a very intelligent student who works very hard but most of the time she is distracted because she's busy trying to fit in. Her mom is a single mom who makes her clothes so Maleeka gets a girl named Char to bring her clothes to change into. In exchange for clothes, Maleeka does Char's homework and is part of her trouble-making clan. Even though she is mistreated by...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 22, 2009 Jasmine rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a good book. Its about a girl named Maleeka who doesn't like the way she looks. She is a very self concious in many ways such as she has dark skin and doesn't like the way that she dressess espically because she has to wear home made choltes in order to save her family money. One day she finds herself in a situation that tells you your ture friends and those that are fake. This situation takes her through deep emotions that helps her work through but also lets her reedeem herself and th...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 12, 2009 Franklin rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

1 like · like · see review

Mar 11, 2008 Makeda8f rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: middle school kids

Recommended to Makeda8f by: My teacher from 3rd grade

I learn so much about this book. What I have learn about this book is that you can't judge people by the book of it's cover.I ready this book when I was in the 3rd grade. I, Like Maleeka, am a dark-skinned Barbadian. When I was younger, I was often teased about the complexion of my skin. I always wished I were a little brighter. After reading this book, I learned to love myself, and accept me for who I am. I also came to the conclusion that my family, and my real friends would love me no matter...more

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 08, 2008 Lei rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who likes to read

Recommended to Lei by: a teacher

This book was really good. It was so easy for me to relate to. It's mainly about how a girl doesn't feel comfortable with the fact that she was really dark skinned. She was always getting teased by other black kids her age. During junior high, one of her new teachers inspired her. The teacher had a huge scar on her face yet she had most people's respect.
She wanted to fit in so badly that she begun cutting class and smoking in the bathroom with the popular kids. She even participated in burning a...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 04, 2011 Madelin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I Really Liked this Book because it Talked about How A Girl Named Maleeka got Teased about how she dressed and the fact that she was black. She gets herbed by Char , Does her homework so Char can Lend Her clothes. I Think it was wrong for Maleeka to do that because She suppose to be Confirmed for who she is. Maleeka Changed alot at the end because she stood up for herself and i think that was right for her to do that. John-John Bullied her alot and Sang her songs about how black she was. I Think...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 24, 2009 T. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-lit

This is a great book for middle school teens in an urban environment. It is also a great book of learning to define who you are and how those around you influence you.

1 like · like · see review

Dec 28, 2007 Lanier rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who has ever felt uncomfortable in their own body.

Scholars chose this book to compliment "Othello" and themes of Othering, or objectifying and demeaning another in order to feel superior or to abuse that other race, religion, sex or class. This, like "A Child Called It", by David Pelzer, is an essential read for young and old alike. Pelzer's sequels are "The Lost Boy" and "A Man Named Dave".

Flake, like Walter Dean Myers, has a knack for bringing realistic characters to life in everyday conflicts while struggling with deeper issues of self-estee...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 26, 2009 Sharaesof2014 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 7th-grade-ir-book-deb

This book is about a girl named Malika who is constantly teased by the people in her school and her life isnt really the best. the people always tease her about her color the way she dresses and the way her hair is. she doesnt really have any friends but there is this one boy that likes her and she is very suprised. what malika does too change is that she cuts her hair and tryed to look different but people still teased her about the way she looked Malika does not have the best like and she doe...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 26, 2009 Ash R. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 7th-grade-ir-books-sadelle

This book is about a girl who is trying to let people see her for who she is, not the color of her skin. In school a young girl is troubled by classmates about the color of her skin. She is looked at differently, she wants to be beautiful not realizing that she already is. She is changing a lot about herself, and she isn't doing it for herself. She learns not to change for no one, only herself.

I can make a text to self connection with her insecurities. I know how it feels like, kind of like you...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 26, 2009 Jessica added it Recommends it for: anyone

Recommended to Jessica by: Teacher

This book is by Sharon G Flake and she has wrote many book i am currently on the second one called MONEY HUNGREY.... This is not a series but they are all wrote by her. Some of her other books are BEGGING FOR CHANGE.

This book is about a girl named Maleeka and she is very poor and he dad died. Now its just her and her mom. Ever since her dad died her mom found a big intrest in sewing and so maleeka's mom tells her that she has to wear what her mom makes her, her mom refuses to buy her any cloth...more

like · see review

Mar 21, 2013 Dene' Barthell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Genre:non-fiction
Tags:internal conflict
Lexile Score :670L
Book Review: this book is fantastic and teaches people of all races and ethnicity to love what God gave them. young Maleeka has low self-esteem because she has very dark skin and people make fun of her for it. i recommend this book for teenagers.

Plot Summary: After Maleeka's father dies she loses her self-esteem. her father had always told her to believe in her self. no-one really makes fun of her until the boy she likes basically disses h...more

like · see review

Feb 15, 2013 Nikia Marie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I checked out a book called The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake. The genre of this book is Drama. The genre of this book is drama because it’s a lot of kids getting into trouble, getting into fights, and being disrespectful. The setting takes place mostly in school. The time of the book is years ago. But things in the book are happening now. The protagonist is a young girl name Maleeka. She’s in the 7th grade.

The main problem in the book is that Maleeka is being bullied by her fellow classmates....more

like · see review

Feb 13, 2013 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction, teen-fiction, website

Maleeka gets teased all the time. She gets teased for her mom-made clothes and her too dark skin. She is friends with Charlese who uses her and is not very nice to her. Charlese is a thug who thinks she runs the school. Then Ms. Saunders comes to teach English. Ms. Saunders is not a regular teacher but she really engages the kids even when they are mean to her. Ms. Saunders has a huge birthmark on her face and children are not kind to those who are different. Ms. Saunders becomes Maleeka's champ...more

like · see review

Feb 03, 2013 Amy (SpedBug) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: could-ve-put-it-down, kept-picking-it-apart-in-my-head, thought-i-d-enjoy-it-more, children-s-teen

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11682663

Maleeka is a bright thirteen-year-old girl whose father has passed away in an unexpected accident and whose mother is struggling to keep them afloat in the aftermath. Although offered a scholarship to a more prestigious school along with her friend, Sweets, Maleeka chooses the familiar halls of her old school - a school which Maleeka describes as having teachers 'that did something wrong to get there'. Although M...more I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11682663

Maleeka is a bright thirteen-year-old girl whose father has passed away in an unexpected accident and whose mother is struggling to keep them afloat in the aftermath. Although offered a scholarship to a more prestigious school along with her friend, Sweets, Maleeka chooses the familiar halls of her old school - a school which Maleeka describes as having teachers 'that did something wrong to get there'. Although Maleeka is too smart for this school, she feels more comfortable there in her homemade clothes and her dark skin. The other school would have challenged her intellect, but as she tells her friend, Sweets, who chose to attend on scholarship, she would have felt out of place amongst all the white faces. Sweets, unlike Maleeka, feels she has as much right to be there as the other students, because she is smart enough.

To Maleeka's school comes a new teacher, Mrs. Saunders, who has taken a leave of absence from her job in an ad agency to fufill her dream of being a teacher. Mrs. Saunders is 'tall and fat as anything' and, although marked with a white blotch on her face, comfortable in 'the skin she's in'. It's Mrs. Saunders who recognizes in Maleeka a talent for writing and tries to encourage her to focus on her strengths rather than be pulled backward by her involvement with the school's queen bee, Char. Throughout the book, Maleeka struggles between what she feels is right and her 'right' to stand up for herself.

I had high expectations of this children's book and it fell a bit flat for me. I expected a deeper, more profound conflict resolution to thirteen-year-old Maleeka's plight and, despite it being a very slim novel, the plot dragged in parts for me. On one hand, the book was too long and could have been pared down to its most concise message. On the other, it could have been made richer by being built on with more focus on the character differences and conflicts between Maleeka, her bullying 'friend', Char, her #1 antagonist, John-John, and Maleeka's admirer, Caleb.

(less)

like · see review

Jan 29, 2013 Destinee Mixon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: semester-1-2012-2013

Main Characters: Maleeka,Charlese,Ms.Saunders,Caleb,and Makeeka's Mom

This book is about a girl named Maleeka who hates the skin shes in. People are always making fun of her. They also make fun of her homemade clothes. Her mom started making her clothes since her father died. This new teacher comes along with a big scar in her face. Maleeka thinks that the new teacher is going to ruin her life.....but she might think again. Ms.Saunders,the new teacher, is always getting in Maleekas business, and...more

like · see review

Nov 18, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Grade/interest level: 7-9
Reading level: 670L
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Main Characters: Maleeka Madison, Miss Saunders, Char
Setting: unkown
POV: Maleeka

The Skin I’m In is a story about a thirteen year old girl who is bullied for the color of her skin. Her skin has a dark complexion and she is teased regularly in school. The kids unkind to her and call her names. Once she starts the seventh grade, she decides that she has had enough of being bullied and chooses to be friends with a rough group of gi...more

like · see review

Nov 12, 2012 Chelsea added it

This book is about a young dark skinned girl who gets teased about her skin color,her hair,and her clothes.She feels that she's not beautiful because everyone is telling her she isnt.She is a very intelligant hardworking girl who's getting side tracked by trying to fit in.Her mom makes her clothes so they can savr money, so she doesn't complain.Maleeka doesn't like the clothes so she gets clothes from a girl named Char (thinking that would make her fit in and be cool).
Alot of her classmates ge...more

like · see review

Jul 15, 2012 Anaya Maze rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Skin I’m In

Hey all you Bloggers out there who love to read books during the summer. I am about to tell you my feelings about my third book that I have just finished yesterday. The book made me feel sad in some parts because Maleeka was being teased about her skin color. Also because her father died in a car crash. The book also made me feel depressed because life is hard when you are only living with one parent. Maleeka was a strong black woman in some parts of the book because she would us...more The Skin I’m In

Hey all you Bloggers out there who love to read books during the summer. I am about to tell you my feelings about my third book that I have just finished yesterday. The book made me feel sad in some parts because Maleeka was being teased about her skin color. Also because her father died in a car crash. The book also made me feel depressed because life is hard when you are only living with one parent. Maleeka was a strong black woman in some parts of the book because she would use self defense on people who tried to grab her and threaten her to do something.
The main characters of this book are Maleeka, Charlese, Raine, and Raise. Maleeka is a strong, intelligent, and brave character. Charlese is a mean, snobbish, and deceitful character. She is always skipping class and she smokes a lot. Raine and Raise are twins in the book and they follow the behavior act of Charlese. I have met people in my school who are like Charlese, Raine, and Raise especially a group of bullies. I have met a few people who fit Maleeka’s personality. I felt really mad in one chapter because Charlese was going to mess up her teacher’s classroom and she wanted Maleeka in the plan. Maleeka did not want to do any destruction to the classroom, but Charlese threatened her to burn the fake money or else she was going to beat her up. Charlese was the first one to get out of the classroom before the janitor caught them. Charlese blamed everything on Maleeka.
Maleeka was very depressed when her father died. She was on the inside. I was very depressed too when she was being teased about her skin color. I would not let anyone talk about my skin color and if they did, I would have punched that person in the face. The character who I do not like is Charlese because she is always skipping school and getting suspended all the time. The character that I really is Maleeka because she is a strong black woman and she knows how to make people stay off of her. I really don’t like the way the author set the book up. I didn’t like the words that were used in the book. It was not harsh language but, there was some words in there like the word dumb. See You Soon Bloggers!!
(less)

like · see review

Apr 09, 2012 Imelda Mena added it

The Skin I'm In the author Sharon G. Flake tells the story of a girl named Maleeka who struggles with appearance and bullying at school. Maleeka is verbally abused by her classmates because of the color of her skin and her economic class. In the story we are introduced to a teacher named Miss Saunders who has a skin condition but feels that she always needs to be the best in order to please herself and not let her skin affect her life. She shows Maleeka that you have to love yourself for who you...more

like · see review

Apr 06, 2012 Rugiatu rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book i am reading right now is "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake.Flake who have won the coretta Scott king/john steptoe award for new talent.Book written in 1998 and published by jump at the sun Hyperion paperbacks in New York city.Editor Andrea Davis Pinkney.Flake wrote the book in honor of her daughter.Bullying at school can be a terrible experience, and yet sometimes it can be quite hard to see the reason for the bullying.The skin i'm in focus on kids bullying kids in school.Why, for...more The book i am reading right now is "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake.Flake who have won the coretta Scott king/john steptoe award for new talent.Book written in 1998 and published by jump at the sun Hyperion paperbacks in New York city.Editor Andrea Davis Pinkney.Flake wrote the book in honor of her daughter.Bullying at school can be a terrible experience, and yet sometimes it can be quite hard to see the reason for the bullying.The skin i'm in focus on kids bullying kids in school.Why, for instance, would a black boy tease a black girl about being black?

The main character in the book are Maleeka Madison a thirteen year old that hate to be in her own skin.John-John McIntyre is the smallest seventh grader in the world who live to make maleeka life hard.Charlese and her gang the toughest girls in the whole school.She become friend so protect herself.Caleb the only boy that did see
maleeka out of her skin and saw her for something beautiful.

Maleeka Madison a Thirteen-year old is tall, skinny, and dark-skinned. That's a problem for her, because it's such a problem for everyone else at school, it seems.so she become friend with the toughest girl in school.As a way to make her life easier but it seem that bullies force you to pay more than you’d like, so life for Maleeka just gets harder, until she learns to stand up for herself and love the skin she's in.So when John-John ruined it for Maleeka and Caleb, Maleeka was left with no-one on her side. Maybe it wasn't a very clever move, but Maleeka teamed up with Charlese and her gang, out of self-protection. That didn't improve things much, but it was better than nothing. Until Charlese decided to see how far she could push Maleeka.

I think this book relates to black girls who sre getting teased and teated worng. It makes you think about other ppl who are being teased or bullied."THE SKIN I'M IN" is a very nice,sad intresting book because not everybody has to be perfect atucally no body is perfect.There are flaws on everybody; even you. When other people tease and bully other kids it's usually because of how they look, I disagree in that action and I'd do anything in the world to make racist people stop. Just because the color of their skin, or the nationality they are...they shouldn't be treated any differently.

This is one of those stories where you can see things going from bad to worse in front of your very eyes. Maleeka is in a difficult situation and there doesn't seem to be anyone she can turn to. She makes some pretty bad mistakes before she finally realises that the new English teacher, the outspoken Miss Saunders, really is on her side.The skin am i is a book that take your breath away.I think you will really enjoy it.(less)

like · see review

Apr 05, 2012 Olive Oyl rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Skin I'm In by Sharon G.Flake is about a young girl in middle school named Maleeka who is teased in school because she is dark complected and wears hand made clothes that her widowed mother makes for her. It all starts when one of her classmates starts singing a chant about Maleeka's dark skin which causes her to become a target of bullying. Eventually a new teacher comes in who helps Maleeka find her voice and love the skin that she is in.
I think this is a great book and I read it within tw...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 21, 2012 Bryan Springman rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought that this was a good book. it was short, but at the same time had many plot twists and other things that set it aside from other short reads. It showed different kinds of racism that I have never heard of before. I never knew that african american people made fun of each other for "how black they were". Do you ever read one of those books where when you get done with it you think: I'm glad that I read this, it was a solid book that I enjoyed. Well thats the kind of book this is.
In the...more

like · see review

Feb 08, 2012 Alicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: african-american, urban, chicklit

This was a re-read that had never been added to my list-- it's a re-read (and I generally never do) because Sharon Flake is coming to our high school! It will be a pleasure to host her and discuss her inspirational writing. I've read all of her others, but obviously there's a reason The Skin I'm In is the most classic. Maleeka is very black and hates her dark skin, her mother's handmade clothes, the fact that her father is dead, and she needs to do her "friends'" homework in order to have them....more

like · see review

Mar 23, 2011 Allendra rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book I read was called 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 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 also is made fun of because she has a big blotch on her f...more

1 like · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Little Falls High...: The Skin I'm In	4	8	Apr 17, 2013 06:37am
Favorite book.	5	17	Oct 07, 2012 02:45pm

combine
Other Editions (21)

More editions...

Genres

Young Adult

131 users

Realistic Fiction

44 users

Cultural > African American

30 users

Young Adult > Teen

18 users

Childrens > Middle Grade

16 users

Cultural

10 users

Young Adult > Coming Of Age

8 users

Academic > School

6 users

Academic > Read For School

6 users

Contemporary

5 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Sharon G. Flake

Sharon G. Flake is the author of five books, The Skin I'm In (1998), Money Hungry (2002), Begging for Change (2003), Who Am I Without Him? Short Stories About Boys and the Girls in Their Lives (2004), Bang! (Sept. 2005), and her latest novel The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street (2007).

Her work is used in public and private schools around the nation, from elementary to high school, and...more Sharon G. Flake is the author of five books, The Skin I'm In (1998), Money Hungry (2002), Begging for Change (2003), Who Am I Without Him? Short Stories About Boys and the Girls in Their Lives (2004), Bang! (Sept. 2005), and her latest novel The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street (2007).

Her work is used in public and private schools around the nation, from elementary to high school, and is often required reading in colleges for students in education, child development, children's literature and English writing programs. Beyond that, her work is also a favorite among adults and adult book club readers.

Flake and her work have won numerous awards and recognitions including: Best Books for Young Adult Readers; Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers; the New York Public Library Top Ten Books for the Teen Age; 2005 featured author in the Ninth Book of Junior Authors & Illustrators; 2005 Capitol Choices; Noteworthy Books for Children; 2004 Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Book; 2004 Texas Lone Star Award for Top Ten Books; 2002, 2004 Coretta Scott King Honor Award; Pennsylvania Council of the Arts Grant; 2004 Bank Street Best of the Year; 2004 Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book; 2004 CCBC Choices; Booklist Top Ten Fantasy Book; 2004 Booklist Top Ten Romance Novels for Youth; 2004 Booklist Editor's Choice Award; 2003 Detroit Free LIbrary Author of the Year; 1999 YWCA Racial Justice Award; 1999 Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Award and more.

Flake's work appears on the Anti-Defamation League's website which stresses the use of children's literature to help educators address the problem of bullying in schools.

Flake was born in Philadelphia, PA, but has resided in Pittsburgh, PA with her daughter for many years. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in English. For several years she was a youth counselor for a foster care agency, after which she spent 18 years working at the University of Pittsburgh in public relations. She has written numerous articles for national publications. Prior to having her first book published, she wrote for approximately 15 years.(less)

More about Sharon G. Flake...

Books by Sharon G. Flake

Who Am I Without Him?: A Short Story Collection about Girls and Boys in Their Lives

You Don't Even Know Me: Stories and Poems About Boys

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Skin I'm In

1 trivia question
1 quiz

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from The Skin I'm In

“Gotta realize that all you are is all you got.” — 26 people liked it

“To look in the mirror and like what you see, even when it doesn't look like your idea of beauty.” — 19 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: The Skin I'm In
avg rating	preview: The Skin I'm In Goodreads rating: 4.05 (5084 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/751635.The_Skin_I_m_In?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1305064345l/751635.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/751635.The_Skin_I_m_In?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake[/url]

The Skin I'm In

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website