Over the past two years, since I have got back into reading, I have begun to branch out into different genres and I have to say I am so happy I have. Last year at the local book club that I go to, we read Say Her Name by James Dawson, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and it got me into the horror genre. The book gripped me so much to be honest that when I went to work later that day I was terrified to look into the mirror for too long, meaning when I got sent Under My Skin by the Guardian Children’s books site, I was very eager to read and review this book!
Under My Skin follows 17-year-old Sally Feather – sounds pretty normal right? Well there is more. Her parents are super-conservative, and she is being bullied by the local high school bullies, so what does Miss Sally Feather do to rebel? Well she gets a tattoo and this is when we meet Molly Sue, perhaps the most devious and manipulative person you could meet. With promises to help Sally overcome her quiet little life and help give her the confidence boost she really needs, instead of turning things back around for Sally, Molly enters their world to turn it upside down as she gets under Sally’s skin with dangerous consequences.
James Dawson is an absolutely fabulous writer, he has such skill with words, especially in the horror genre, creating shivers through your skin and making your hair stand on end. Set in high school, instead of a boring horror we experience from Dawson a thrilling experience – I almost wish that I went to this school since it seems so entertaining. The voices of the characters produced are strong and powerful, especially Molly Sue and even Sally too.
Molly Sue is devious, dangerous and smart, with a quick tongue and wittier lines. With this sense of sweetness about her too we think her and Sally would make an excellent team until her sweetness is shown to be more of a darkness. This supernatural aspect of a tattoo being alive is more freakishly thrilling than you would initially think; I definitely now feel that I won’t be getting a tattoo in the foreseeable future.
Personally I find Under my Skin to be a powerful story of self discovery but also of confidence and growth of a character which I love. The strong character voices of the two female leads create this thrilling and intricate novel which I find everyone would love. The book is so diverse and different which not many YA books are; pushed by individuality this novel is truly exquisite.
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Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop
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