Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teen girls find solidarity in spellbinding novel-in-verse.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
When (S)KIN begins, 15-year-old Marisol, a Black teen, and her mother are living in a run-down apartment over a bakery in Brooklyn where they work. They have left a Caribbean island where they were resort workers. Both of them are soucouyants: They shed their skin during the new moon, turn into a fireball, and fly through the night consuming life from humans, especially their enemies. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Genevieve lives with her White father, her stepmother (who is also White), and newborn twin half-siblings. Her father, an anthropology professor who studied in the Caribbean, has told her that her Black mother was a mermaid. As she entered adolescence, her skin became very inflamed with untreatable eczema, acne, and other conditions. When a new nanny comes to care for the twins, Marisol and Gen's lives collide with surprising and dangerous results.
Is It Any Good?
Quite simply, a masterpiece. In (S)Kin Ibi Zoboi takes some daring risks with the novel-in-verse format, and they have a huge payoff for the reader. Lyrical and immersive, the colorful details about Brooklyn and the culture of Caribbean immigrants there bring the setting to life. There's a seamless connection between the central symbol—skin—and the topics set out for readers to explore, including kinship, identity, colorism, puberty, and motherhood. The book is suited for more mature readers: It's emotionally intense, and all of the characters are morally dubious, though their journey is a well-paced, dramatic stunner.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the idea of a "generational curse" like the one in (S)Kin. How is it similar to or different from "generational trauma"? Why is curiosity important in unraveling the past? How can a person develop compassion for their ancestors?
One metaphor for empathy is "getting into another person's skin." How does the author use this metaphor to help readers explore the idea of empathy?
What are some ways the theme of courage appears in this story? Find some examples of courage and some examples of cowardice.
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Curiosity , Empathy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Versify
- Publication date : February 11, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate