By Sara Grochowski
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Twenty years after the publication of her novel The Skin I’m In
, which garnered her the Coretta Scott King–John Steptoe Award for New Talent, Sharon G. Flake revisits her beloved characters Maleeka and Miss Saunders, while giving readers a fuller understanding of Char, the bully who makes Maleeka’s life miserable. In The Life I’m In
, Flake explores bullying, human trafficking, and the power of compassion. Flake spoke with PW
about returning to familiar characters years later, the pressure to honor her original story, and sharing narratives that depict the diverse experiences of African American youth.