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 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.
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