Sharon G. Flake crafts compelling narratives that resonate with both young readers and adults. Her body of work delves into complex themes of identity, friendship, and overcoming adversity, often through the lens of adolescent experiences. Flake approaches her writing with empathy and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by young people, imbuing her characters with authenticity and resilience. Her stories are celebrated for their literary merit and their power to spark important conversations about societal issues.
The powerful and long-anticipated companion to The Skin I'm In, Sharon Flake's bestselling modern classic, presents the unflinching story of Char, a young woman trapped in the underworld of human trafficking.
Maleeka suffers every day from the taunts of the other kids in her class. If they're not getting at her about her homemade clothes or her good grades, it's about her dark, black skin. When a new teacher, whose face is blotched with a startling white patch, starts at their school, Maleeka can see there is bound to be trouble for her too. But the new teacher's attitude surprises Maleeka. Miss Saunders loves the skin she's in. Can Maleeka learn to do the same?
This winner of the 1999 Coretta Scott King John Steptoe Award tells the storyof a young African-American girl who is tormented by her peers because of herdarker skin.