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The Family I'm In

ebook
1 of 2 copies available
1 of 2 copies available

The bestselling and award-winning author of The Skin I'm In and The Life I'm In returns with a novel that explores the complex relationships between Black boys and their fathers, and what it truly means to be a man.

Sharon Flake's groundbreaking novel, The Skin I'm In ushered in a new voice that lit up the YA landscape, ignited important conversations about self-perception and racial identity, and became a modern classic that has been passed down through generations. The Life I'm In came next, bringing the same unmistakable voices of the characters who opened the hearts and minds of kids throughout the world, asked hard questions, and plunged readers into the harsh realities many teen girls face. Now, The Family I'm In brings back the same riveting characters — but this time focuses on the important relationships between Black fathers and sons. John-John and Caleb, friends since childhood, have come face-to-face with the struggles and triumphs of becoming young men. They're up against a world where many Black boys face complicated generational expectations and fears of the future. They summon their inner strength to push beyond family illness, mental health issues, parents, teachers, and society — to reach, succeed, and to live with dignity, purpose, and promise.

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    • Kirkus

      February 15, 2025
      A Black teen perseveres in his search for love and acceptance despite insecurities and a strained paternal relationship. John "John-John" McIntyre is looking forward to attending junior prom with Ashley, the cute girl from his book club, and to a chill summer practicing archery, playing video games, and hanging with friends. But things aren't going his way. His relationship with Ashley is off to a slow start. His best friend, Caleb, is busy working at his lawn-mowing business, helping to support his family while his dad recovers from an aneurysm. And John-John's dad seems determined to remind him of how he's failed to live up to expectations. John-John just wants to figure out who he should be. But to do so he must face his anger and hurt towards his dad, grapple with his feelings of inadequacy about being short and dark-skinned, and reckon with societal messages around masculinity. This companion novel toThe Skin I'm In (1998) andThe Life I'm In (2021) reunites fans with beloved characters, including Maleeka, Charlese, and Miss Saunders. Readers will find much to appreciate about John-John's meandering journey, which doesn't spell out lessons but trusts them to reflect independently. John-John's central relationships are well developed and poignantly described, and Flake renders his growing pains on the road to maturity in an authentic and accessible voice that will make readers root for him. A thought-provoking portrayal of growing up and defining yourself as a young man.(Fiction. 14-18)

      COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • School Library Journal

      Starred review from April 4, 2025

      Gr 7 Up-John-John isn't quite like other boys his age. A self-described nerd, he's into archery and Star Wars, and he's the only boy in book club. He's never been on a date or kissed a girl, a source of distress for him and even more so for his dad, Big John, a neighborhood personality who runs a successful salvage business and constantly pressures his son to be more like him. Many characters will be familiar to readers of Flake's previous companion novels, The Skin I'm In and The Life I'm In. But the focus here is on John-John, or John as he now prefers, a high school junior living with his divorced mom, and friend Caleb, who is struggling to help his family escape eviction following his dad's disabling aneurysm. John has a lot going on: static with his dad's new wife, a desperate crush on classmate Ashley (whose conservative mother won't allow her to date or talk to boys on the phone), mounting tension with Caleb around family stress, his fruitless attempts to find a date for the junior prom. A carjacking incident and misplaced attempt to stand up for themselves leads the boys to a nearly catastrophic climax. All significant characters are Black. The narration by John-John frequently incorporates African American Vernacular English, giving a colloquial immediacy to the story. VERDICT A deeply moving portrayal of contemporary teens living complex lives with dignity and courage, this should find a home in any library serving middle and high schoolers.-Bob Hassett

      Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      April 1, 2025
      Grades 7-10 Flake returns to the world of The Skin I'm In (1998) to bring an update on the lives of Maleeka, Char, Caleb, and John. Told from the perspective of John, we find each character navigating high school and the growing pains associated with the events of the past books. John is looking for his first girlfriend and trying to navigate the relationship with his father and stepfamily. Caleb is taking on multiple jobs to keep his family afloat while also taking care of his ailing father. Maleeka is trying to create her own newspaper, and Char is preparing to spend a summer with her grandparents. While the four of them have formed a close friendship, past events still leave scars that each character eventually must deal with. John's coming of age will particularly resonate with young Black boys who are trying to figure out their place in the world. Fans of the previous books will devour this new addition to the series. An excellent purchase for young adult collections.

      COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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  • English

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