The Skin I’m In Character Analysis

Maleeka Madison

Maleeka is the 13-year-old protagonist and narrator of The Skin I’m In. During her time at McClenton Middle School, other students like John-John and Charlese frequently bully Maleeka over her dark skin and the… read analysis of Maleeka Madison

Miss Saunders

Miss Saunders is the new English teacher at McClenton Middle School. Previously, she worked at a successful ad agency, until it set up a program whereby employees could take a leave of absence to teach… read analysis of Miss Saunders

Charlese Jones

Charlese is a classmate of Maleeka’s at McClenton. Charlese is the toughest girl in school, and the year prior to the novel’s events, Charlese was one of Maleeka’s primary bullies—particularly when Maleeka started hanging… read analysis of Charlese Jones

Caleb Assam

Caleb is a classmate of Maleeka’s at McClenton. A year prior to the novel’s events, Caleb told Maleeka she was pretty, and they started dating. However, when people started making fun of them, Caleb… read analysis of Caleb Assam

John-John McIntyre

John-John McIntyre is one of Maleeka’s classmates at McClenton and one of the kids who bullies her most frequently. A year prior to the novel’s events, John-John made up a song about Maleeka being… read analysis of John-John McIntyre

Maleeka’s Mom

Maleeka’s mom is Maleeka’s sole caretaker, as Maleeka’s dad died three years prior to the novel’s events. While Maleeka’s mom loves and supports her, she doesn’t always model good behavior. Maleeka reveals that, following… read analysis of Maleeka’s Mom

Akeelma

Akeelma is a fictional character in Maleeka’s writing assignment for English class. Akeelma (whose name is close to Maleeka’s name backwards) is a 13-year-old girl on a slave ship headed for the United States… read analysis of Akeelma

JuJu

JuJu is Charlese’s 25-year-old sister. JuJu and Charlese’s parents died two years prior to the events of the novel, and JuJu has been taking care of Charlese since then. JuJu sells designer clothes at… read analysis of JuJu

Kinjari

Kinjari is a fictional character in Maleeka’s writing assignment for English class. Like Akeelma, Kinjari is traveling to the U.S. on a slave ship in the 17th century. Just as Akeelma parallels Maleeka’s… read analysis of Kinjari

Maleeka’s Dad

Maleeka’s dad died in a car accident three years prior to the novel’s events, but he still has a profound impact on Maleeka. Growing up, Maleeka’s dad encouraged her love of reading. He also… read analysis of Maleeka’s Dad

Sweets

Sweets is Maleeka’s best friend. The girls did everything together until the year prior to the novel’s events, when Sweets started attending a better school across town. Maleeka also had the grades to go… read analysis of Sweets

Minor Characters

Raise

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Skin I’m In Characters