Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Thought-provoking sci-fi saga has riveting twists.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Fraternal 12-year-old twins Nick and Eryn have come to expect some emotional bumps in their lives since their parents divorced, but they are not prepared for the big changes that come when their mother remarries. Not only do they have to move to a new house, but they'll have to get used to having a new stepbrother and stepsister. The strangest part of the arrangement, however, is that Eryn and Nick are not ever supposed to meet their stepsiblings. When they begin a quest to find out why these kids are being hidden from them, they're told that to continue the investigation would put the entire family in danger. Eventually, Nick and Eryn learn secrets that could jeopardize not only their own lives but also the fate of humanity.
Is It Any Good?
It takes a while for the plot of this sci-fi novel to ramp up, but once it does, the narrative surprises come thick and fast. UNDER THEIR SKIN starts out in familiar territory, with a set of twins trying to maneuver through their mother's remarriage. Readers who can push past the talky opening chapters will be rewarded.
A note of oddness grows in complexity as Eryn and Nick pursue their investigation of their family's secrets, until author Margaret Peterson Haddix unveils a stunning revelation at the novel's midpoint. After that, further reversals will keep readers on their toes and wanting more.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the challenges of living together as stepchildren. What kinds of compromises have to be made in building a blended family?
Have you read other books by Margaret Peterson Haddix? How does Under Their Skin compare?
Does your family have any rules that at first felt strange or arbitrary but later made sense because your perspective about them changed?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Robots
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : January 5, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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