Summer Reading 2013: The Skin I'm In (Realistic Fiction)

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Maleeka Madison is miserable when a new teacher comes to her depressed inner-city school. Miss Saunders evidently is rich, self-assured in spite of the white birthmark across her black skin, and prone to getting into kids' faces about both their behavior and their academic potential. Black and bright, Maleeka is so swamped by her immediate problems that Miss Saunders's attentions nearly capsize her stability. The girl's mother has just emerged from a two-year period of intense mourning for her dead husband, during which time her daughter has provided her with physical and moral support with no adult assistance. At school, Maleeka endures mean-spirited teasing about the darkness of her skin and her unstylish clothing. She seeks solace in writing an extended creative piece, at Miss Saunders's instigation, and also in the company of a powerful clique of nasty girls. Told in Maleeka's voice, this first novel bristles with attitude that is both genuine and alarming. The young teen understands too well that her brains aren't as valuable as the social standing that she doesn't have. In the end, she is able to respond positively to Miss Saunders; she also becomes socially anointed through the affections of the most popular boy in the school. This message rings true in spite of the fact that Maleeka's salvation isn't exactly politically correct. Young teens will appreciate Flake's authenticity and perhaps realize how to learn from Maleeka's struggle for security and self-assurance. (School Library Journal)

Sharon Flake (born Philadelphia) is an American author of young adult literature. She has resided in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her daughter for many years. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in English. Her works include The Skin I'm In, which follows a young African American girl who has issues with people teasing her about the color of her skin and the way she dresses. She tries her best to fit in but it doesn't go too well. She learns that trying to fit in is not the best way to make people like you. Her works have won numerous awards. The Skin I'm In won the John Steptoe New Talent Award in 1999 for new authors and garnered positive feedback from Booklist and School Library Journal. She has also been twice awarded author honors by the Coretta Scott King Awards. (Amazon)