The Skin I'm In

Summary

Main characters

• Maleeka Madison - A poor African-American girl who feels she is unpopular at her middle school because of her dark skin color and teenage clothes. Maleeka learns to come to terms with the skin she is in.
• Charlese Jones - The antagonist of the story. She is a fast-talking trouble making girl who is one of Maleeka's "friends." She lends Maleeka her clothes in exchange for Maleeka doing her homework.
• Miss Saunders - Maleeka's English teacher. She has a skin disorder on her face that she says no one was able to get rid of. She is confident and is essentially what Maleeka dreams of being.
• Caleb - Maleeka's love interest. He's a caring boy who is dedicated to school and doesn't care about what people think about him. He's a little shy when it comes to Maleeka.
• Raina and Raise - Charlese's "sidekicks". They agree with and go along with everything Char does.
• Momma/ Mrs. Madison - Maleeka's loving mother. Though devastated after the death of her husband, Mrs. Madison still pushes Maleeka to do well in school and tries to relieve some of her depression through sewing Maleeka clothes. Some people believe that she is crazy although Maleeka believes that she is a very smart and bright mother.
• John-John - Maleeka's tormentor since 2nd grade.

  Awards

• Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent
• Publishers Weekly Author to Watch
• New York Public Library Top Ten Book for the Teen Age
• YALSA Best Books for Young Adult Readers
• YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers
• Texas Lonestar Reading List
• Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year
• YWCA Racial Justice Award
• Detroit Free Library Author of the Year Award
• Starred Review in Publishers Weekly