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Chapter 17
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Skin I’m In, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Bullying and Insecurity
Self-Esteem, Support, and Friendship
Writing and Self-Expression
The Importance of Role Models
Summary
Analysis
A month later, Maleeka can’t forget what happened with the boys. She spends a lot of time in her room, writing in Akeelma’s diary. Maleeka explains that it’s hard to know where Akeelma’s thoughts begin and hers end: when Akeelma says that she’s scared people think she’s ugly, Maleeka knows that she’s really talking about herself. She even writes about what happened with the boys, only from Akeelma’s perspective on the boat. She also writes that when Akeelma was running from the men on the ship, she spotted Kinjari and discovered that he wasn’t dead after all.
Maleeka is becoming even more conscious of how her writing reflects her own life, whereas before, the connections were more subconscious. Maleeka directly relates her life to Akeelma’s and understands that writing is a way for her to work through her own feelings and experiences. Kinjari’s return to the story thus reflects Caleb’s desire to make amends with Maleeka—and, in turn, Maleeka’s wish to reconnect with Caleb.
Themes
When Maleeka shows her writing to Miss Saunders, Miss Saunders says that writing is clearly one of her gifts. Maleeka is proud to excel in writing. Charlese then spots Maleeka in the hall and tells her that the girls are hanging in the bathroom next period. Maleeka says that she has to work in the office, to which Charlese responds that Maleeka is a “good little slave.” Maleeka is upset; she knows that if Charlese knew what girls like Akeelma went through, she wouldn’t be talking down slaves. Charlese says that Maleeka better be in the bathroom.
Miss Saunders is an important force in Maleeka’s life: only through only through Miss Saunders’s mentorship is Maleeka able to foster her talent for writing. And, in turn, Maleeka’s writing empowers her to recognize the injustice in her own life. Even if Charlese views Maleeka as a “slave,” she knows that she’s strong and worthy.
Themes
Maleeka reckons that hanging out in the bathroom is more fun than stapling papers, so she meets Charlese, Raise, and Raina there. As the other girls put on makeup, smoke, gossip about boys, and draw on the bathroom stalls, Maleeka rereads one of Akeelma’s letters. Charlese spots the letter and makes fun of Maleeka for continuing to write them. She takes out a cigarette lighter and sets one of Maleeka’s pages on fire. Maleeka blows it out quickly.
Again, Charlese demonstrates a keen instinct for bullying Maleeka in ways that make her more insecure. While Maleeka has been using her writing to build her confidence and empower her, Charlese burning her letters is a way to undermine that confidence.
Themes
Raina, Raise, and Charlese then start to talk about Maleeka like she’s not there. Raina says that Maleeka is ugly and notes that their grades haven’t improved even though Maleeka is doing their homework. Charlese says that she can’t cut Maleeka loose until the big book report is due in social studies. Suddenly, Miss Saunders comes into the bathroom, flushes the girls’ cigarettes town the toilet, and says that she’s surprised to see Maleeka there. Charlese says that Maleeka isn’t a goody two-shoes like Miss Saunders thinks.
Charlese continues to prove the irony in her and Maleeka’s relationship: while Maleeka tries to be friends with her to protect her from bullying, Charlese already bullies Maleeka. In addition, it’s clear that Miss Saunders recognizes this, which is why she makes an immense effort to separate them whenever possible, so that Maleeka can replace her bad influences.
Themes
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Miss Saunders then accidentally bumps Charlese, who drops her lipstick. Charlese complains that Miss Saunders bumped her on purpose, but Miss Saunders reminds her that she’s not a child and doesn’t play games. After telling them all to go to the office, Miss Saunders pulls Maleeka aside. She points out that Maleeka was doing well in class and working in the office, and she advises Maleeka to choose better friends. In the office, Miss Saunders reports that the girls were cutting class, smoking, and destroying property.
Miss Saunders again emphasizes Maleeka’s need to find better friends, knowing that friends should be supportive rather than prone to bullying and preying on a person’s insecurity. Miss Saunders’s ability to recognize this and try to make Maleeka understand it emphasizes Miss Saunders’s importance as a positive role model in Maleeka’s life.
Themes
