My lips are white. Sixteen-year-old Sep stares into the bathroom mirror on the first day of school. It’s not some weird lipstick (she never wears lipstick), she didn’t bump her lips or chew on ice. Her lips are just ? white. In a panic, she digs up an old lipstick and smears it on her colorless lips. But soon, more and more white spots begin to bloom, spreading their chalky tendrils across her olive brown skin. Does she have a disease? Is she turning into some kind of freak? Sep is usually the one who knows all the answers. With a quicksilver mind and a supple body, she’s happiest when she’s delving into the mysteries of animal biology or giving herself over to sweet, hot moves in Jazz Dance Club. Unlike her best friend, Devon, she’s never been in a rush to get a boyfriend. But as the white blotches spread, her dating days ? like the endangered species she studies ? seem numbered. So when Josh, a boy she’s always liked, makes a flirty advance, she wonders: why not grab pleasure while she can? Frank, funny, and full of passion, this compelling novel tells the empowering story of a strong, gifted teen who, as her life spins out of control, desperately tries to prove to the world, and herself, that she is deeper than skin.
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Skin is the type of book that tugs at your heart strings. You are instantly invested in Sep’s life and enthralled by her story. The best way to describe Skin is the ugly duckling in reverse. When Sep wakes up to discover that her lips are white she promptly thinks she is going to die (not in the ultimate death way, more like a social death). She also learns that it’s not just her lips that will be affected. It could spread to her whole body. But Sep is a fighter, she buys makeup to cover her discolored lips (I refuse to believe that lipstick will completely cover white lips however) and foundation to cover any other spots and charges on.
I loved concept of following Sep in her journey to discover her inner self. Sep is forced to figure out who she is regardless of her outward appearance. That alone is a great message to send to the young adults that may read this book. I loved that. What I was not so hot about was that Sep choose to get a boyfriend and “go all the way” with him. Sure they claimed they were in love but let’s get serious, how many teenagers really have long lasting relationships. Any way I digress. The writing was so good I was able to overlook my doubts, not only overlook them I completely ignored any questions I had about the behaviors of the characters until now. And I finished this book two weeks prior to writing this.
The depth Donna Jo Napoli is able to pull from all of the characters that she created is amazing. Each person and each relationship is crafted so beautiful that you are so engaged in the story you feel like you are living it. I would say it’s a must read for older young adults. There is some sexual content so I would be hesitant to recommend this to anyone under the age of 16. 16 and older, read it. You won’t regret it.
4.5 Bards
This review was contributed to A Midsummer Night’s Read by Missy
Moving! 