I was offered a copy of this by the publisher, and the email said it was for fans of Black Cake, The Girl with the Louding Voice and My Name is Leon: I can understand this, as it’s a lovely coming of age story about a resilient teenager carving her own way in the world like all of those, but with its own differences.
Ishi Robinson – “Sweetness in the Skin”
(24 November 2023, NetGalley)
I feel the tiniest little stab somewhere in my side at the idea that my poverty is an adventure for her, but eventually I smile back. Maybe, I think, it won’t be so bad. Maybe she’ll see me for who I really am and I can stop pretentding. Maybe this will be a good thing.
Pumkin lives in a small house half way between the near-slums and the good areas in Kingston, Jamaica, able to go to a good school because her Aunt Sophie pays her school fees, but feeling like she has to hide that she lives in a tiny house with her grandmother, her mother who wants little to do with her and resents Sophie and her sophisticated aunt who’s also teaching her ways of hiding who you are, working at the French embassy and dreaming of moving to France.
When Sophie gets her dream, she promised to send for Pumkin, but Pumkin’s mum turns on her and refuses to let her take the exam she needs, no good at standing up for her when things go wrong at school. But Pumkin has a secret weapon: two, actually – her ability to make friends and her ability to bake. Surrounded by found family and adding people to it, notably a rather scary teacher at a French language school she needs to attend to get her exam, she bakes her way to having the requisite savings and gathers folk around her who can help her when the going gets tough. Will she make it to France, and does she need to?
I was worried this was going to be a simple bootstraps out of shameful poverty story – but it’s not, she sees the value in her roots, laughs at a posh friend who can’t cope visiting her and is not ashamed of herself – or that she’d find a White boyfriend to help her – again, no, just a variety of different Jamaican friends, including older women and a lovely guy who’s just a lovely guy and nothing else. There’s an underlying strong message about colourism and class, Pumkin’s mum having darker skin than Aunt Sophie and thus being less favoured, and class distinctions being harsh.
With some borderline distressing scenes (nothing as bad as in “The Girl with the Louding Voice”) this was on the whole a lovely, positive read which was also realistic in the hard work Pumkin put in and the sometimes strained relationships with her friends and family.
Thank you to Penguin Random House for offering me a copy of this book to read via NetGalley in return for an honest review. “Sweetness in the Skin” was published on 11 April 2024.
Laura
Apr 26, 2024 @ 08:22:25
That’s a beautiful cover! It reminds me a bit of some 80s/90s children’s fiction, actually, to the extent that I’d have assumed that this was for kids, but it sounds like YA?
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Liz Dexter
Apr 29, 2024 @ 20:34:39
I wouldn’t say it is YA, although it’s written from a young woman’s POV, if you see what I mean. It’s difficult to tell as I read both but it was definitely rounded and full of interesting adult characters. I see what you mean about the cover!
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madamebibilophile
Apr 26, 2024 @ 09:01:06
I only read My Name is Leon recently and I really enjoyed it. so that comparison is very appealing! This sounds well balanced and a lovely read.
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Liz Dexter
Apr 29, 2024 @ 20:35:23
It’s really good, I do recommend it. I didn’t read Leon until quite recently as I thought it would be too devastating, but loved it.
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Wendy
Apr 26, 2024 @ 10:18:21
Sounds like a sweet coming of age story, with a cultural twist.
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Liz Dexter
Apr 29, 2024 @ 20:36:00
It has such a sense of place and social position but is nuanced and doesn’t go where you think it will. A real NG winner!
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Calmgrove
Apr 26, 2024 @ 12:12:24
Like Laura I was drawn by the cover, so beautiful and also enigmatic. And then the premise further drew me in. Wonderfully intriguing, thanks!
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Liz Dexter
Apr 29, 2024 @ 20:36:39
It is a lovely cover, isn’t it, and a really well-done story that really immerses you in the place and community. There’s some sad stuff but lovely positive things, too.
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kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 26, 2024 @ 12:49:52
Sounds great, especially as it avoids some obvious tropes.
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Liz Dexter
Apr 29, 2024 @ 20:37:09
Yes, I was very pleased it swerved what I was sort of expecting!
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Erin @ Cracker Crumb Life
Apr 29, 2024 @ 14:29:58
This sounds excellent! I will have to add it to my list.
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Liz Dexter
Apr 29, 2024 @ 20:37:56
I do think you’d enjoy it!
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Michelle Chai
May 01, 2024 @ 08:51:09
This one is on my TBR and I’m glad you enjoyed it – hopefully I’ll get round to it soonish!
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Liz Dexter
May 02, 2024 @ 10:03:09
Ooh, good, I hope you like it!
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Life of a Female Bibliophile
May 01, 2024 @ 13:23:52
What a beautiful cover and the story sounds so intriguing. I’ll have to add this to my TBR. Thanks for putting this novel on my radar.
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Liz Dexter
May 02, 2024 @ 10:07:26
Ah, great, glad you like the sound of this. I loved the way the heroine used her inner resources and the help of other people in her community to try to rescue herself. I look forward to hearing what you think of it in due course!
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heavenali
May 01, 2024 @ 16:21:45
Although initially put off by this being about a teenager, I must admit this sounds really good. The supporting cast of characters sound well done. That cover is rather lovely too.
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Liz Dexter
May 02, 2024 @ 10:08:14
Definitely an adult book with a younger heroine rather than YA, and not a miserable 20-something but someone on the cusp of life using inner and community resources to save herself on her own terms.
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