The Skin I’m In is the story of Maleeka Madison and her struggle to be accepted by her fellow classmates. She is teased for her bad, homemade, clothing and her ebony colored skin. She hangs out with a rough group of girls lead by a girl named Charlese. Maleeka lacks the courage to say no to Charlese, which leads to many mishaps. With the encouragement of a teacher named Ms. Saunders, Maleeka becomes accountable for her actions and accepts herself for who she is.

In Money Hungry, Raspberry Hill is obsessed with money. She will do almost anything for a buck. Knowing the feeling of being homeless, she believes having money will keep her from ever living on the streets again. She hangs out with a supportive group of girls from all walks of life. They remind her there is more to life than money. Raspberry soon finds herself homeless once more and realizes that money can’t save her. What saves her are the relationships she has with friends.

Maleeka and Raspberry are both young African American girls in middle school who are being raised by their mothers. Both have distinct physical looks, Maleeka with her dark ebony skin and Raspberry with her freckled face. Maleeka is self-conscious and shy where as Raspberry is self-assured and lets no one step on her. The groups of girls they hang out with are very different. Maleeka’s group uses her to do their dirty work while Raspberry often tries to boss her group of friends around.

Maleeka’s mother is going through a depression due to the death of her husband. The strong woman figure in the book is a teacher named Ms. Saunders. Maleeka was loved by her father and misses him dearly. Raspberry’s mother is strong and determined to provide a better life for her daughter. Her father is homeless and addicted to drugs. Raspberry doesn’t like to see him come around. He only comes when he needs something. Both books portray the struggle of women and young girls in the inner city.

Sharon Draper writes, “The voice of Maleeka Madison is endearing, honest, and powerful. She vocalizes authentic adolescent fears—of social acceptance, peer intimidation, and self -image. Slowly, Maleeka grows from seed to bloom as she gradually learns to love herself. Sharon Flake writes with the soul of her characters—a rare and wonderful talent.”

Gail Richmond writes, “Flake does a stunning job of intertwining Raspberry's story with daily urban scenes, and she writes smoothly and knowingly of teen problems, discussions, and reactions. Focused storytelling, clear writing, and a compelling voice are the highlights of this short novel.”