Reviews

Skin by Adrienne Maria Vrettos

kricketa's review

2.0

I'm reviewing this book for work, which means it will end up being written up something like, "Donnie knows there is something terribly wrong with his sister. But as his fractured family attends to healing Karen's disease, Donnie feels himself growing more and more invisible. Will their father come home so they can be a family again before it's too late?"

But since I'm not at work NOW: it was only ok. Everything about this boy's life is a disaster: no friends, parents breaking up, dying sister. Somehow, though, it still focuses on the sister. Donnie wants to share the story of what happened to Karen, and in the end realizes that he got shoved aside during all this and needs to learn how to...function. Vrettos throws a lot in there and it's just a bit hefty. And when she tries to balance it out with humor, that doesn't go so well either.

charlee_12's review

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

maryam162424's review

4.0

This is an amazing book that literally will break your heart. I LOVED the perspective of this book, especially since it's different compared to others. It's so sad, messed up, relatable, real and upsetting that made it more appealing for me. Great great great read!

angelreadsthings's review against another edition

3.0

3 1/2 Stars. This had a great plot and pretty good characterization; however, I felt that it moved too fast for me to be able to fully experience all the emotions that it aroused within me.

zoebird81's review

5.0

Not really counting this as a 2023 read because I've lost track of how many times I've torn through it. And not writing a real review either because- reasons!

I can only say two things: 1. There is nothing like crying on the M train, and 2. I am so glad I walked out of The Awty International School's library with this in the 9th grade and never brought it back.

drakean8's review

4.0

Had to read this one again. Told from the younger brother's point of view, life as he knows and is comfortable with is falling apart at the seams. No friends at school, his parents constantly fighting and on the verge of divorce, and his sister is developing an eating disorder. While all the attention remains on Karen to get her to eat, Donnie tries to keep his family together as best as he can, while slipping through the cracks.

estyslapo's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

haleybre's review

4.0

The characters and plot were great, just thought it would be more focused on the eating disorder. Much of the book talked about bullying at school and Donnie's friends, Chris and Bean, didn't have much backstory to go on.

laurenmars's review

5.0

This was so, so good. I identified with Donny throughout, although he seemed really immature for a high school boy at times (which I realize seems like somewhat of an oxymoron after writing this sentence, but he seemed to be more like a nine-year-old boy at times), but I understood and could sympathize with his pain to the extent that I cried at the end.

perfect_escape's review against another edition

5.0

This was a really good book. I'm pretty sure I got teary-eyed. I really feel bad for Donnie. [3 I recommend this book, particuarly to teenagers.