Sharon Flake

My sister is always looking for a book that Pop can read that

1. is relevant to a teen in this day and age (why are so many books for Black teens set during slavery or the civil rights movement?)
2. is not about, ahem, bling-bling (I am not dogging Terry Woods but really, do YOU want YOUR 13 year old reading True to the Game I through III?)
3. and is a good read (some books are crap. Do you finish every book you start?)

Have I found something for her!

After finishing Inkheart and Coraline (which I loved) I found myself looking for another quick easy read, and there was Sharon Flake’s The Skin I’m In. I have been sleeping on Sharon Flake! I would pull her books for a display but never took a moment to read them. What a delight!

Maleeka Madison is the main character of The Skin I’m In. Her dark skin color is the object and scorn of the children she goes to school with. Her new teacher encourages her to be proud of the skin she is in.

While the book felt a bit dated (do kids still call each other jive?) the issue of skin color, peer pressure is so current that I almost kicked myself for not finding Flake sooner!

I devoured Money Hungry tonight. Raspberry Hill is the main character in this book. She is determined to make money so that she and her mother would not have to live on the streets again.

I just found out that there is a sequel!

Sweet!

I can’t wait to share this book with Pop. When The Bee gets older I am going to read them with her as well.

Reading more by Sharon Flake,

-r