The Skin I'm In

Flake, Sharon G. (1998). New York: Jump at the Sun Hyperion Paperbacks for Children.142310385-8

PLOT SUMMARY

Thirteen year old Maleeka is black as night, lives in an urban neighborhood, and is too smart for her own good. She is picked on, but doesn't do anything about it. When a new teacher comes in to try and bring something new to the middle school, Maleeka is singled out as teacher's pet even though she does what she can to discourage the new teacher. When her friend Charlese coerces her into vandalizing the new teacher's room, Maleeka must take a stand.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The story is written very well in the voice of an urban thirteen year old narrator, but there seemed to be points in the story that were disjointed and did not flow well. I thoroughly enjoyed the story as a whole and the conflicts that the main character has to deal with, but I did not feel connected with her. I found myself feeling sympathetic towards her situation, but there were too many moments where I just got annoyed with what she was doing by not taking a stand and letting people run all over her. I could understand that there is a certain fear involved when you're dealing with certain types of people, and that in the ghetto things are different (i.e. you don't snitch) and that she did not want to get into trouble, but because I did not feel like she and some of the other characters were very well developed, I lacked that connection to them.

READER'S ANNOTATION

Loving yourself is something the some people find difficult to do. Thirteen year old Maleeka knows that she is very dark, but she certainly does not think she is ugly. Unfortunately there are others who think othewise, and torment her because of it. When a new teacher begins teaching at her school, Maleeka is curious, but standoffish because this teacher is confident with her expensive jewelry and suits, but she is also disfigured because of a birthmark on her face. Still she finds a way to connect with the kids until she gets on the bad side of one of Maleeka's friends. Then Maleeka must choose between doing what's right and standing up for herself, and doing what's wrong.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sharon G. Flake is an author of young adult books. She graduated with a degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh and worked for the university for 18 years, during which time she wrote The Skin I'm In. She was awarded the Coretta Scott King award for this novel and has since finished 5 more.

GENRE

African American Lit

CURRICULUM TIES

English/History/Social Studies

Analyze the use of voice and how the author has created a narrator through this distinct feature.

Discuss the fictitious diary entries that Maleeka uses in her writing project. What would she have to have known about the slave trade to create a character that is believable?

Discuss the prejudices of society found within groups who are the same race, but based on distincti attributes such as the lightness/darkenss of their skin.

BOOKTALKING IDEAS

What would you do if you were being picked on for the color of your skin? How would you feel if the person picking on you was the same race and only picking on you because your skin was darker than his? And what if your friends insist on being hooligans while all you want to do is just get by?

READING LEVEL/INTEREST AGE

13 and up

CHALLENGE ISSUES

Racism within a particular racial group

CHALLENGE DEFENSE IDEAS
Know library policies. Know the book. Understand that the issues presented in the book are those that are still relevant today and that kids should have access to literature that exposes them to ideas that otherwise would be unknown to them.

WHY INCLUDE THIS BOOK?

The issues are important and I would want kids to read this and think about their own actions and how it affects other people.