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Chapter 20
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
Miss Saunders is furious at Maleeka for listening in on their conversation, but Maleeka promises that she won’t repeat anything she heard. The next day, Miss Saunders calls Maleeka her into her room again to talk about her writing assignment. Reading Maleeka’s work, Miss Saunders compliments her and gives her two As. She also says that Maleeka can keep it up if she wants, and she asks if Maleeka has told anyone about her conversation. Maleeka says no.
Miss Saunders follows Tai’s advice in working with Maleeka; she recognizes that test-taking isn’t the only way for Maleeka to prove that she’s learning. Maleeka’s work shows that she’s developing creative writing skills—and in giving her As and allowing her to continue the assignment, Miss Saunders is encouraging those skills.
Themes
Maleeka tells Miss Saunders that she acts like the only person who’s ever been teased. Maleeka says that lots of people tease her, and she asks Miss Saunders if she has any friends. Miss Saunders says that it was hard to keep them because she traveled so often for work, but she’s been friends with Tai since college—Tai was the one who suggested that Miss Saunders come to McClenton. Maleeka says that she’s glad Miss Saunders has one friend.
While Maleeka illustrates her growing self-confidence in speaking candidly with Miss Saunders, she also reveals some of her insecurity. Even though Charlese and the other girls make fun of her, Maleeka would rather stick with them because she’s insecure about not having friends—she even looks at Miss Saunders as an example of someone who has few friends. Though Maleeka hasn’t yet acknowledged that friends shouldn’t tear other friends down, she does recognize the value of friendship in giving a person confidence.
Themes
