This was a classic James Dawson book. You can just tell it's him; who else would write about a possessed pin-up girl tattoo? It has him written all over it. It's bold, original and not afraid to stick out. And you can't tell this by the picture but the page edges are fuchsia pink.
Under My Skin is the latest terrifying James Dawson novel and, like the rest, I love it. It follows a girl who spontaneously decides to get a tattoo, a girl named Molly Sue. Molly Sue is everything Sally Feather dreams of, confident and gorgeous. However, when a tattoo begins to control your body, things get a little interesting.
This description probably sounds crazy and it is but somehow Dawson just manages to pull it all together and create a terrifying plot. It is believable (to a certain extent) and the characters seem real. At points it may seem a little cliched or the romance a little predictable but that doesn't matter. Dawson can get any with anything it seems.
Oh, and by the way, Molly Sue, her tattoo, is the sassiest tattoo ever. Imagine 'Mean Girls' times a thousand, that's her!
What I love about Dawson's book is his ability to take large issues surrounding teenage life and make us think about them without even realising. The protagonist, Sally Feather, makes some drastic changes throughout the book and a large theme is identity. It's about how she presents herself and how she acts to get people's attention and forgets to question whether this is who she is. I think it's a very prominent topic as it's so easy to forgot who you are as a teen and follow the crowd and I think many people lose their true identity.
I recommend this book highly if you are a lover of James Dawson already, and if you've never read anything by him be prepared for the wacky and emotional ride!
• Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop.
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