The Skin I’m In Characters

Raise is Raina’s twin sister. Raina and Raise hang out with Charlese and follow whatever she says, frequently bullying Maleeka alongside Charlese. They help Charlese destroy Miss Saunders’s room at the end of the book, and they’re suspended when Maleeka reveals what they did.

Raina is Raise’s twin sister. Raina and Raise hang out with Charlese and follow whatever she says, frequently bullying Maleeka alongside Charlese. They help Charlese destroy Miss Saunders’s room at the end of the book, and they’re suspended when Maleeka reveals what they did.

Desda is a classmate of Maleeka’s at McClenton. Maleeka describes Desda as short and fat. Though Desda has won several cooking awards, Maleeka admits that she’s not very smart. Still, Desda tries to support Maleeka and tells her not to let bullies like Charlese get to her.

Daphne is a classmate of Maleeka’s who’s dating Worm. Daphne hears a rumor that Maleeka was making out with Worm in the hallway, when in reality it was Charlese. She confronts and attacks Maleeka, who takes the fall for Charlese and gets beaten up by Daphne.

Tai is Maleeka’s math teacher. She is also an old friend of Miss Saunders’s from college who suggested that Miss Saunders teach at McClenton. Like Miss Saunders, Tai tries to take initiative with Maleeka and encourages her to keep her grades up.

Worm is a classmate of Maleeka’s who is dating Daphne—but early in the novel, he makes out with Charlese. Daphne believes that Maleeka was the one who kissed Worm, and she attacks Maleeka for it.

Ronnie is Sweets’s cousin who owns a hair salon and gives Maleeka a cropped hairstyle. She and the other women in the salon then show Maleeka how to strut with her new haircut.

Mr. Pajolli is the principal at Maleeka’s school. Many students, teachers, and parents—including JuJu—complain about Miss Saunders to Mr. Pajolli.

Miss Carol is the secretary in the school office who supervises Maleeka at her office job.