Skin Deep
By Lois Ruby
3.5/5
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About this ebook
Dan shows up on his first day at a new school with long blond hair, John Lennon glasses, and a shy grin that makes every girl in the hallway swoon. But he only has eyes for Laurel, who’s in his English class. Laurel stirs feelings in Dan that he never knew existed, and suddenly, he understands love. Soon, he will understand hate as well.
When a gang of violent young men invades the annual Halloween party, most of Laurel’s friends stay away. The men are white supremacists with shaved heads, steel-toed boots, and a look in their eyes that says they’re ready to fight. But something in their attitude draws Dan toward them. He’s angry at the world, and these skinheads seem to understand how he feels. As he sinks deeper into their twisted world of hate and rage, Dan risks losing not only Laurel, but also his soul.
Lois Ruby
Lois Ruby is the author of 18 books for middle graders and teens, including Steal Away Home, Miriam’s Well, The Secret of Laurel Oaks, Rebel Spirits, Skin Deep, and The Doll Graveyard. Her fiction runs the gamut from contemporary to historical and from realistic to paranormal. An ex-librarian, Ruby now writes full-time, in addition to speaking to bookish groups, presenting at writing workshops, and touting literacy and the joys of nourishing, thought-provoking reading in schools across the country. Ruby and her husband live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains.
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Reviews for Skin Deep
4 ratings1 review
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5While the synopsis on the back cover of "Skin Deep" leads the reader to believe Laurel Grady is the main character, that role is largely taken by Dan Penner, Laurel's current boyfriend and new high school senior in Boulder, Colorado. The point of view does switch between these two, giving a clear view of the opposing (Laurel) and advocating (Dan) sides of racism.Dan's first glimpse into a hate group is when he watches a group of skinheads rallying at a town Halloween party. But it's not until later that he gets involved, when he witnesses them attacking a Pakistani store clerk, which earns him part of the blame for what they had done. Somewhat reluctantly--though he had shown some awed respect for them earlier--Dan joins this brotherhood as a way for him to feel male kinship and to justify the injustices he feels he's suffered, like being discriminated against because he's white, whether on his high school swim team or while job-hunting.I had to admire Laurel in this book, especially when she dumped Dan after seeing how beat up he was after his "initiation." I would have handled the situation in the same way. And, unfortunately, I do know people like Dan, so this book was a reminder of how dangerous hate groups are. It's disturbing in its realistic portrayal of skinheads--or "socioeconomic violent counterculture gang menace," as one of Laurel's younger brothers aptly puts it. "Skin Deep" isn't preachy or one-dimensional, though some readers may draw conclusions that racism is just a one-sided action--white against black. This issue does come up briefly near the end of the book, making it quite clear that hate is hate, no matter what the race.Because "Skin Deep" tackles some very relevant issues about racism and First Amendment rights, it's appropriate for all ages, not just the intended teen audience; though, as a warning, there is some strong profanity, which might not settle well with everyone. A thought-provoking and controversial book, "Skin Deep" is worthy of discussions and debates in schools and elsewhere. Highly recommended.