Zakia Brown

 Dear Ms. Sharon G. Flake,

When I read your book, "The Skin I'm In", I was inspired to speak out, let the world know that I was there, that I had a voice, and wasn't afraid to use it. As soon as I read the the first sentence on the page, I knew that this wasn't just any ordinary book, but a mini adventure squeezed into the pages, and stuck there, like it needed a key to be opened, a key that everyone has, but has to know how to use ... that key, is a heart!

Not many people understand books, but, if you truly want to experience an adventure, you might as well pack your bags, and grab a ticket. My ticket was "The Skin I'm In".

After a few chapters, I was thrown into Maleeka's world, and found myself like an angel, not seen, but there. There were times when I felt myself wanting to cry right along with Maleeka and her mother, but, there were also times when I wanted to scream and shout at her for being such a follower, and making such poor choices. Maleeka was a girl who needed a true role model in her life. Maleeka was a girl, who needed to find her inner-self. By speaking out, she learned that if you truly mean it, then people will listen. That if you want to be heard, then you have to do it yourself, not have people do it for you.

Everybody laughs and turns my way. "Yea," John-John says, "Welcome back." My lips slowly trace over the last words of the book, and I crack a smile as I realize that my adventure is over.

Your book has taught me many lessons, and as I sat and absorbed all that I had just read, I realized that my adventure hadn't ended after all .. but had just begun!

For I will always speak out and let the world know WHO I AM!

A very touched reader,
Zakia Brown