Starred Review ALA Booklist (Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)

Starred Review It's been a little more than 20 years since the award-winning The Skin I'm In took the world of young adult literature by storm, and now Flake has returned with a much-desired sister novel. Whereas the first installment follows the life of Maleeka Madison, a 13-year-old Black girl who is bullied into setting her teacher's classroom on fire, the second, picking up right where things left off, unfolds through the perspective of Char, her bully. After Char is expelled from McClenton Middle School, Char's sister, JuJu, has no choice but to send her away to live with their grandparents in Alabama. But what was supposed to be a foolproof transition to a better life and new opportunities for 16-year-old Char quickly spirals as she is pulled into a sex-trafficking circle that all but strips her of who she knows herself to be. Not for the faint of heart, Flake's novel treats Char's experiences with vivid transparency. Char's voice is harrowing as the complexities behind her life and relationships are peeled back, exposing the pain behind her actions and a steadfast resolve to do better. Despite everything she encounters, Char is not alone, as her relationships with both Maleeka and Ms. Saunders evolve in unanticipated and heart-wrenching ways, signaling to readers that it's never too late to try and turn things around. Included is the contact information for the National Human Trafficking Hotline along with a brief discussion of Flake's journey in writing this difficult yet necessary sequel.

Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)

A troubled African American teen gets caught up in the world of trafficking as she tries to cope with negative feelings about herself.Despite her sister's best efforts, 16-year-old Charlese Jones is still making trouble and getting kicked out of school. Her sister and guardian, JuJu, has had enough and prepares to send her to their grandparents in Alabama. On the bus ride, Char continues to be angry, irreverent, and difficult. She argues with the driver and drinks alcohol she has smuggled in her bag. Still, she interacts with others on the bus, learning their stories and thinking about her own life. When new passenger April and her baby, Cricket, board, they become Char's focus-and then April disappears, leaving Cricket behind. When the man who left with April returns, he takes Char into the dark world of sexual trafficking, a place she begins to think she deserves. Flake follows her groundbreaking novel The Skin I'm In (1998) with a sequel for these times. Char, the antagonist from the first book, is presented here in all her vulnerability, eliciting empathy even as she makes mistakes. The ease with which some prey on vulnerable youth is starkly portrayed, balanced by the efforts of other caring adults to save them. The unflinching narrative is rich in dialogue and detail.A vivid and important depiction of the struggles of too many teens. (author's note, research and resources) (Fiction. 14-18)

Horn Book (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

At sixteen, Char (the bully from The Skin I'm In, 1998), who's been expelled from several schools, is on the way to live with her grandparents, sent by her sister in hopes of turning her life around. During the multi-day bus ride (where most of the story takes place), Char decides to try to make it on her own; she also befriends a young mother -- who then disappears from a station, leaving Char with the baby. Char encounters a man named Anthony, who approaches her with money and kind words, but the dangerous motives behind his generosity are quickly revealed. This compelling look into the sex trafficking world through the eyes of a complex protagonist should help to start conversations about the painful realities of many young victims. For Char, the nightmare ends -- thankfully -- when she escapes, and her friends and family begin to help her recover. Back matter includes an author's note explaining Flake's rationale for telling this story, as well as a bibliography. Nicholl Denice Montgomery

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

A troubled African American teen gets caught up in the world of trafficking as she tries to cope with negative feelings about herself.Despite her sister's best efforts, 16-year-old Charlese Jones is still making trouble and getting kicked out of school. Her sister and guardian, JuJu, has had enough and prepares to send her to their grandparents in Alabama. On the bus ride, Char continues to be angry, irreverent, and difficult. She argues with the driver and drinks alcohol she has smuggled in her bag. Still, she interacts with others on the bus, learning their stories and thinking about her own life. When new passenger April and her baby, Cricket, board, they become Char's focus-and then April disappears, leaving Cricket behind. When the man who left with April returns, he takes Char into the dark world of sexual trafficking, a place she begins to think she deserves. Flake follows her groundbreaking novel The Skin I'm In (1998) with a sequel for these times. Char, the antagonist from the first book, is presented here in all her vulnerability, eliciting empathy even as she makes mistakes. The ease with which some prey on vulnerable youth is starkly portrayed, balanced by the efforts of other caring adults to save them. The unflinching narrative is rich in dialogue and detail.A vivid and important depiction of the struggles of too many teens. (author's note, research and resources) (Fiction. 14-18)