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The Skin I'm In
A feisty, funny and poignant novel - about being 17; being Indigenous and navigating high school, cultural and personal expectations and responsibility - by proud Ydinji woman Steph Tisdell, writer, actor and one of the brightest stars of Australian comedy.
Layla is in her final year of school. It's the last year to make sure that the next major phase of her life begins correctly because she's got big plans.
All Layla wants to do is fit in and be a normal teenager but when her troubled cousin Marley comes to stay, he unwittingly challenges everything she thought she was. Plus her best friend Amy has a new best friend, she's trying to work out what it means to be Indigenous, and she's falling in love.
Steph Tisdell's words sparkle with humour, depth and authenticity in this extraordinary debut novel which explores cultural and personal expectations, and responsibilities.
Layla is in her final year of school. It's the last year to make sure that the next major phase of her life begins correctly because she's got big plans.
All Layla wants to do is fit in and be a normal teenager but when her troubled cousin Marley comes to stay, he unwittingly challenges everything she thought she was. Plus her best friend Amy has a new best friend, she's trying to work out what it means to be Indigenous, and she's falling in love.
Steph Tisdell's words sparkle with humour, depth and authenticity in this extraordinary debut novel which explores cultural and personal expectations, and responsibilities.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2024
16 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
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August 1, 2024If I could only use five words to describe the book they would be, ‘vulnerable’, ‘hopeful’ and ‘really freaking funny’, although if I were Layla that would definitely be an f-bomb instead. The humour in Layla’s voice shines through so brightly in this incredibly witty and insightful work by comedian, actor, writer, and proud Ydinji woman Steph Tisdell.
This is the kind of book that I want to put into the hands of anyone who is or ever has been a confused teenager, questioning their sense of self and identity and place in the world (i.e. literally everyone). Steph manages to perfectly capture so much of the quintessential teen experience (Confusing friend dynamics! Fighting & making up with your mother! Falling in love for the first time!) while also weaving in deeply personal challenges like the struggle of straddling cultures, grappling with systemic racism and connecting to Country. Layla’s story contains multitudes and there is so so much to learn from it, this is sure to become essential reading everywhere.
- Nicole
This is the kind of book that I want to put into the hands of anyone who is or ever has been a confused teenager, questioning their sense of self and identity and place in the world (i.e. literally everyone). Steph manages to perfectly capture so much of the quintessential teen experience (Confusing friend dynamics! Fighting & making up with your mother! Falling in love for the first time!) while also weaving in deeply personal challenges like the struggle of straddling cultures, grappling with systemic racism and connecting to Country. Layla’s story contains multitudes and there is so so much to learn from it, this is sure to become essential reading everywhere.
- Nicole
August 19, 2024
Lost for words sufficient to convey the absolute mastery of this novel. And I thought I couldn't love Steph Tisdell more.
October 12, 2024
pretty good
June 12, 2024
This is a powerful and heartfelt novel from a perspective that's so sorely needed! 'The skin I'm in' takes you on an emotional journey, expertly sharing hard truths, belly laughs, and love in all its forms - all from an authentic teenage voice.
Layla is a character you can instantly identify with, because her many experiences help you feel seen as an overthinking/anxious teenager, an overachiever or 'good girl', a teen rebelling for the first time and most importantly, a teenager trying to discover their cultural identity in a world where others think they have a say in it.
This YA novel should be read by adults and kids alike, and I'd love to see it become part of the school curriculum in Australia. The politics, history and life lessons shared in this book could ultimately change the way we teach and parent our children, and change the way our children feel about themselves.
Layla is a character you can instantly identify with, because her many experiences help you feel seen as an overthinking/anxious teenager, an overachiever or 'good girl', a teen rebelling for the first time and most importantly, a teenager trying to discover their cultural identity in a world where others think they have a say in it.
This YA novel should be read by adults and kids alike, and I'd love to see it become part of the school curriculum in Australia. The politics, history and life lessons shared in this book could ultimately change the way we teach and parent our children, and change the way our children feel about themselves.
October 22, 2025
A necessary and rage-inducing masterpiece.
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Skin I’m In is the best debut novel I’ve read in years. This is a powerful and deeply relevant story told through the unfiltered perspective of an Aboriginal teenage girl, Layla.
This is the kind of book I want to put into the hands of anyone who is or has ever been a confused teenager, questioning their sense of self and their place in the world. Tisdell perfectly captures the quintessential, manic teen experience while layering it with critical questions of culture and identity.
Layla begins her final year of school as the poster child praised for achieving perfect grades, having good friends, aiming for uni, and doing everything ‘right’. Yet, the emotional core of her story lies in the angst and rage that build as her carefully constructed life unravels in a single, chaotic year.
The betrayal by her favourite teacher fractures her faith in the school system, and she comes to realise how fragile and conditional relationships can be. Everything Layla had been commended for begins to crumble. This sense of injustice is compounded by the treatment of her cousin, Marley, who, despite his own complex trauma and issues, appears to face fewer consequences, reinforcing the double standards of Layla being a self-managed, non-rebellious 'good girl’.
The novel excels in exploring Layla’s tumultuous relationship with her own identity and her family, and while she is fiercely proud of her Aboriginal culture and is desperate to be part of it, she has been raised separately from the community and knows the history but has no personal connection or stories of her own.
Her mother and Marley, both from black fella country, code-switch and speak differently when at home and because Layla cannot connect or communicate with them in this way, she is instantly disconnected.
She begins to feel like an outsider everywhere, in her family, her school, and her friendships, fuelling a complex, painful mother-daughter relationship where Layla craves her mum's approval yet blames her for the cultural distance and being raised to be ‘white’.
The book is an honest, raw portrait of modern Australia that deals with peer pressure, drugs, social media, attempted suicide, intergenerational trauma, and systemic disadvantage without ever sensationalising them.
It captures the psychological exhaustion of having to constantly fight for acceptance.
Identity is an evolving concept. We don’t need to be sure of who we are, but we need to be sure of what we want and what we want to achieve as an extension of that.
Layla is 'bright' and articulate enough to write and eventually turn her journals into a story, sharing the devastation in her world; however, we hear little of Marley's side of the story (who never learnt to read), highlighting the systemic truth that some voices are granted space to be heard, while others are not.
Her story reinforces the truth that being seen is not enough when people can pretend (or prefer) not to see the totality of others’ experiences.
The ending initially left me feeling unbalanced and frustrated, but I’ve realised that uncertainty is one of the book's core strengths. It’s raw, it’s realistic, and it forces us to confront so much about ourselves, others, and Australian society.
I have immensely enjoyed reading and learning from this book, and while I’d love to share more, it was almost impossible to review without leaking spoilers.
Content warnings: Readers should be aware that this book contains frank discussions of racism, racial slurs, attempted suicide, drug abuse, colonisation, and mentions of domestic and child abuse.
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Skin I’m In is the best debut novel I’ve read in years. This is a powerful and deeply relevant story told through the unfiltered perspective of an Aboriginal teenage girl, Layla.
This is the kind of book I want to put into the hands of anyone who is or has ever been a confused teenager, questioning their sense of self and their place in the world. Tisdell perfectly captures the quintessential, manic teen experience while layering it with critical questions of culture and identity.
Layla begins her final year of school as the poster child praised for achieving perfect grades, having good friends, aiming for uni, and doing everything ‘right’. Yet, the emotional core of her story lies in the angst and rage that build as her carefully constructed life unravels in a single, chaotic year.
The betrayal by her favourite teacher fractures her faith in the school system, and she comes to realise how fragile and conditional relationships can be. Everything Layla had been commended for begins to crumble. This sense of injustice is compounded by the treatment of her cousin, Marley, who, despite his own complex trauma and issues, appears to face fewer consequences, reinforcing the double standards of Layla being a self-managed, non-rebellious 'good girl’.
The novel excels in exploring Layla’s tumultuous relationship with her own identity and her family, and while she is fiercely proud of her Aboriginal culture and is desperate to be part of it, she has been raised separately from the community and knows the history but has no personal connection or stories of her own.
Her mother and Marley, both from black fella country, code-switch and speak differently when at home and because Layla cannot connect or communicate with them in this way, she is instantly disconnected.
She begins to feel like an outsider everywhere, in her family, her school, and her friendships, fuelling a complex, painful mother-daughter relationship where Layla craves her mum's approval yet blames her for the cultural distance and being raised to be ‘white’.
The book is an honest, raw portrait of modern Australia that deals with peer pressure, drugs, social media, attempted suicide, intergenerational trauma, and systemic disadvantage without ever sensationalising them.
It captures the psychological exhaustion of having to constantly fight for acceptance.
Identity is an evolving concept. We don’t need to be sure of who we are, but we need to be sure of what we want and what we want to achieve as an extension of that.
Layla is 'bright' and articulate enough to write and eventually turn her journals into a story, sharing the devastation in her world; however, we hear little of Marley's side of the story (who never learnt to read), highlighting the systemic truth that some voices are granted space to be heard, while others are not.
Her story reinforces the truth that being seen is not enough when people can pretend (or prefer) not to see the totality of others’ experiences.
The ending initially left me feeling unbalanced and frustrated, but I’ve realised that uncertainty is one of the book's core strengths. It’s raw, it’s realistic, and it forces us to confront so much about ourselves, others, and Australian society.
I have immensely enjoyed reading and learning from this book, and while I’d love to share more, it was almost impossible to review without leaking spoilers.
Content warnings: Readers should be aware that this book contains frank discussions of racism, racial slurs, attempted suicide, drug abuse, colonisation, and mentions of domestic and child abuse.
February 1, 2025
This books takes teenagers and eventually hurls them into the path of lives lead by people who are older, falling into a trap so many authors make. Which I thought a shame, since that didn't occur until maybe half way through this book. It's also a book where the author crams too many things into one story. There are characters on EastEnders who lead less dramatic lives than the teenagers in this book. And while I appreciate the inclusion of a narrative voice that's trying to connect with themselves or their surroundings, I think cramming the book with everything else reduces the impact of that voice. Will that make the key messages the author has included be drowned out? I don't think so, but it does distract a bit from the intent.
Sometimes I do think YA books are written solely for a YA audience, and this may be one of those books. The narrative voice reads very young. It felt to me there was an immaturity in the prose - not in the concepts or themes discussed, but in the writing style. It suited the narrator's voice, which I guess is the intention, but I think many readers may feel the writing feels too young.
But all in all, it's a consistent narrative. It's a positive narrative. There's a sense of fun in the book, a sense of humour, and a willingness to accept it's fine to laugh at yourself and still be fabulous. And that's something I think teenagers sometimes forget. So maybe this book will give them comfort that even though life can be serious and can sometimes feel unfair, there's always a way through.
Sometimes I do think YA books are written solely for a YA audience, and this may be one of those books. The narrative voice reads very young. It felt to me there was an immaturity in the prose - not in the concepts or themes discussed, but in the writing style. It suited the narrator's voice, which I guess is the intention, but I think many readers may feel the writing feels too young.
But all in all, it's a consistent narrative. It's a positive narrative. There's a sense of fun in the book, a sense of humour, and a willingness to accept it's fine to laugh at yourself and still be fabulous. And that's something I think teenagers sometimes forget. So maybe this book will give them comfort that even though life can be serious and can sometimes feel unfair, there's always a way through.
November 9, 2024
4.5* I bought this book for my 16yo niece and thought I should read it first. I loved it. Steph Tisdell has a wonderful voice, writes great characters, like Layla, and captures the world of teenagers so well.
Amongst the laughs, angst and crushes, Tisdall gently wove Layla’s perspective of growing up in a city, as the ‘priveliged’ child of an Indigenous Australian mother and white Australian father. Questions around identity, belonging, cultural history, illiteracy and trauma, incl suicide were presented in a way that invites discussion and awareness.
My favourite passage is from pages 201-203 where being ‘on Country’ was described so beautifully.
It’s a novel I’d encourage readers of all ages to read.
Amongst the laughs, angst and crushes, Tisdall gently wove Layla’s perspective of growing up in a city, as the ‘priveliged’ child of an Indigenous Australian mother and white Australian father. Questions around identity, belonging, cultural history, illiteracy and trauma, incl suicide were presented in a way that invites discussion and awareness.
My favourite passage is from pages 201-203 where being ‘on Country’ was described so beautifully.
It’s a novel I’d encourage readers of all ages to read.
April 21, 2025
Content warnings: racism, racial slurs, attempted suicide, drug abuse, colonisation, mentions of domestic violence, mentions of child abuse
4.5 stars
This was an extremely fast but extremely powerful read. It's a beautifully told story that deals really well with changing family situations and discovering that the adults you respect can be deeply flawed human beings who aren't at all who you thought they were. Darker than I anticipated, but definitely one I'll have to revisit in the future.
4.5 stars
This was an extremely fast but extremely powerful read. It's a beautifully told story that deals really well with changing family situations and discovering that the adults you respect can be deeply flawed human beings who aren't at all who you thought they were. Darker than I anticipated, but definitely one I'll have to revisit in the future.
February 8, 2025
5 stars
australian ya my beloved ❤️❤️
i love reading books about people my age (so i can compare myself to them lmao) so reading about a character who's also in year 12 was really awesome!! she and i definitely share some opinions on school and the atar haha.
i think the dialogue about blackness and culture in this novel is really important and current, as i'm sure there are many first nations kids who struggle with the concept of not being "black enough". this should be essential reading for teens of all ethnicities, especially those who need to check their privilege and reflect (myself included).
representation aside, this is also just a really awesome and honest portrayal of being a young person in australia. i can't wait to read more of steph tisdell's work.
australian ya my beloved ❤️❤️
i love reading books about people my age (so i can compare myself to them lmao) so reading about a character who's also in year 12 was really awesome!! she and i definitely share some opinions on school and the atar haha.
i think the dialogue about blackness and culture in this novel is really important and current, as i'm sure there are many first nations kids who struggle with the concept of not being "black enough". this should be essential reading for teens of all ethnicities, especially those who need to check their privilege and reflect (myself included).
representation aside, this is also just a really awesome and honest portrayal of being a young person in australia. i can't wait to read more of steph tisdell's work.
September 7, 2024
I think this is the best First Nations/Aboriginal teen novel I’ve read. I was hoping it’d be the next Looking for Alibrandi. It’s almost there - just a little clunky in parts. But definitely a book that needs to be read widely.
February 22, 2025
All opinions are entirely my own. I am in no way affiliated with the author or publisher. Remember to support your local indie bookstore and library!
⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨ ᰔ ୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
"We make up a small percentage of Australia population so our social issues may seem exaggerated. These aren't issues that we associate with indigenous, they are issues that exist as an extension of trauma and pain."
Star Rating: 2.5 Stars
Discovery: Browsing
Reading Format: Audiobook
Read Time: 5 Hours
17 year old Layla is an Aboriginal girl entering her final year of highschool with a plan for how she's going to propel herself forward into a successful future. When her cousin moves in she feels insecure in her indigenous heritage and that's not the only part of her identity she'll become unsure of.
An accurate depiction of the inner workings of a teenage girl. The good girl gone bad aspect of the story were cringe at times but not unrealistic.
The contemporary story of a teenage highschool girl just wasn't that interesting to me.
⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨ ᰔ ୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
"We make up a small percentage of Australia population so our social issues may seem exaggerated. These aren't issues that we associate with indigenous, they are issues that exist as an extension of trauma and pain."
Star Rating: 2.5 Stars
Discovery: Browsing
Reading Format: Audiobook
Read Time: 5 Hours
17 year old Layla is an Aboriginal girl entering her final year of highschool with a plan for how she's going to propel herself forward into a successful future. When her cousin moves in she feels insecure in her indigenous heritage and that's not the only part of her identity she'll become unsure of.
An accurate depiction of the inner workings of a teenage girl. The good girl gone bad aspect of the story were cringe at times but not unrealistic.
The contemporary story of a teenage highschool girl just wasn't that interesting to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2024
Would have loved this during my high school years
July 25, 2025
3.5 stars
August 30, 2025
An excellent novel - so glad I picked this up
December 29, 2024
Look, I’m obviously not the target market for this book and that’s fine. This definitely is a book for teenagers. The main character sounds like a genuine teenager, and the writing style is in line with high school English creative writing - which it turns out this whole story essentially is. I’m not sure how intentional it all is, but it does add a layer of authenticity to the novel. A good read for young people trying to find their way, perhaps.
August 12, 2025
did not like
October 14, 2024
this was amazing - I listened as an audiobook with Steph reading it and I couldn’t recommend more
September 10, 2024
A really good read, especially if you want to understand more about first nation peoples in contemporary society and the complex and challenging issues faced by young people in particular, as they navigate a society that is either uncaring or trying too hard (and getting it wrong).
October 1, 2024
Highly recommend. And if you’re an audiobook fan, listen to Steph reading it!
September 10, 2024
I bought this book with my granddaughter in mind but I will not be passing it on to her for some time. Steph Tisdell makes a powerful statement on Aboriginal Australians and should be read for that reason alone. I do strongly recommend that grandparents read it. Being a teenager today could not be more different that it was in the olden days when I was in Year 12. Apart from the ignorant and blatant racism Layla experienced, this is about academic pressure and expectation, family dysfunction and abuse, mental health, confidence and/or lack of it, alcohol, drugs, sex, bullying, suicide and Layla also was craving more of her heritage. It is nothing like the teenage 1960's I experienced. This is a powerful and confronting read.
February 9, 2025
A very quick, easy read. But directed more towards teens and young adults. It has inspired me to read more from our First Nations people.
September 21, 2024
Year 12. Layla’s final year at her Australian high school. It lay ahead of her like a red carpet into her future. Layla’s a hard worker, drivenThe Skin I'm In Book Review Cover and confident within her schoolwork – achieving A’s and praise from her teachers.
Layla isn’t exactly super popular but is happy in the friendship she has had from small. But lately her best friend has been hanging out with another girl named Jess. The bond between Layla and her bestie has begun to bend and stretch and she’s worried.
Something else is changing too. Layla’s cousin Marley has come to stay. He had been getting into a lot of trouble where he lived, so it was decided he would come and live with her family in the city.
The cousins aren’t close, and have had completely different upbringings. Layla’s friends are white and she hardly gave the colour of her skin a second thought. But when Marley arrives he brings uncomfortable things to the surface – both at home and school.
His upbringing might have been hard, but Layla realises he knows so much more than her about their culture and identity. She has just cruised along in her privilege, never really needing or wanting to know. At the mention of attending a Dreaming Camp instead of the normal school camp, Layla is conflicted. This would be a way to learn more about country and culture, but what will she miss at the camp her friends are attending?
Soon, her friendships have changed, and her whole outlook on life has imploded after a traumatic event. Layla feels unanchored and not sure which way to turn. Being a teen suddenly feels really hard and confusing, and she feels pulled in separate directions. How did everything become so hard and pointless?
Told in first person, Layla is such a warm, authentic, beautiful, imperfect teenager. She had found things relatively easy until Year 12, had a good relationship with her hard working and loving parents, and did well in school.
A traumatic event pushes Layla off her axis, spinning her into confusion, uncertainty and a spiral of rebellion as she tries to work out not only her future but her entire identity – which hasn’t been questioned before.
The Skin I’m In is a powerful story of belonging, finding out who you are and loving yourself during the transformation of teenage years. Being indigenous in an all white school suddenly brings pressures Layla has never experienced before – both inner and outer, and she’s not sure how to process them.
Superbly written and so powerful. Within this novel we experience the completely normal teenage angst of this age, first love, taking control of your own destiny and dreams, and learning to stick up for who you are.
Loved it!
Layla isn’t exactly super popular but is happy in the friendship she has had from small. But lately her best friend has been hanging out with another girl named Jess. The bond between Layla and her bestie has begun to bend and stretch and she’s worried.
Something else is changing too. Layla’s cousin Marley has come to stay. He had been getting into a lot of trouble where he lived, so it was decided he would come and live with her family in the city.
The cousins aren’t close, and have had completely different upbringings. Layla’s friends are white and she hardly gave the colour of her skin a second thought. But when Marley arrives he brings uncomfortable things to the surface – both at home and school.
His upbringing might have been hard, but Layla realises he knows so much more than her about their culture and identity. She has just cruised along in her privilege, never really needing or wanting to know. At the mention of attending a Dreaming Camp instead of the normal school camp, Layla is conflicted. This would be a way to learn more about country and culture, but what will she miss at the camp her friends are attending?
Soon, her friendships have changed, and her whole outlook on life has imploded after a traumatic event. Layla feels unanchored and not sure which way to turn. Being a teen suddenly feels really hard and confusing, and she feels pulled in separate directions. How did everything become so hard and pointless?
Told in first person, Layla is such a warm, authentic, beautiful, imperfect teenager. She had found things relatively easy until Year 12, had a good relationship with her hard working and loving parents, and did well in school.
A traumatic event pushes Layla off her axis, spinning her into confusion, uncertainty and a spiral of rebellion as she tries to work out not only her future but her entire identity – which hasn’t been questioned before.
The Skin I’m In is a powerful story of belonging, finding out who you are and loving yourself during the transformation of teenage years. Being indigenous in an all white school suddenly brings pressures Layla has never experienced before – both inner and outer, and she’s not sure how to process them.
Superbly written and so powerful. Within this novel we experience the completely normal teenage angst of this age, first love, taking control of your own destiny and dreams, and learning to stick up for who you are.
Loved it!
November 14, 2024
This explores the experiences of a young Indigenous woman growing up in Brisbane, with a particular focus on a period in which she starts to become more aware of the complexities of her identity. I found it interesting and absorbing, but also sometimes just a little too close to a lecture.
Layla is in Year 12. She’s always been a good student, and now she’s on the brink of the next phase of her life, she has big plans. She’s going to go to uni, and she’s going to make the world better. But she is also a teenager, and that comes with testing boundaries and starting to figure out who she is.
This process is made more acute when her troubled cousin Marley comes to stay. Seeing how different his experience of being Indigenous has been sets Layla on a path to explore herself in more detail.
Much of this novel is vivid and well portrayed. In particular, I felt Tisdell really hit the mark in scenes touching on issues like teenage uncertainty around sex, conflict in friendships, and the feeling that adults just don’t understand. Her characters are vibrant and most readers will either recall or be experiencing these feelings – they’re vividly portrayed.
I found scenes where Layla was beginning to acknowledge her heritage more strongly, and to push back against the way others saw it or treated her, powerful and realistic. Although this is specific to the experience of Indigenous people in Australia, others may see links to their own experiences around race or gender. Many will recognise echoes of Layla’s experiences.
The one flaw of the novel, though, is that sometimes it sounds a little bit like a lecture. It’s true that I read this novel partly in hopes that I’d gain another perspective on Indigenous people’s experiences. I did get this through Layla’s experiences, and her reflections on the experiences of other Indigenous people she knows.
However, there were some sections where Layla’s voice faltered, and I felt that I was receiving a lecture, not seeing a teenage girl become more thoughtful about aspects of her cultural heritage and experience. These (short) sections were also the least interesting to read.
This is a thoughtful novel. As well as providing a strong perspective on Indigenous culture and the experience of racism – including what you might call inadvertent racism – it’s a novel that portrays the late teenage years well. It may also encourage young readers to be more thoughtful about their own cultures, and about how they react to others who come from cultures different to their own.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
An edited version of this review first appeared on www.beautyandlace.net as part of their bookclub.
Layla is in Year 12. She’s always been a good student, and now she’s on the brink of the next phase of her life, she has big plans. She’s going to go to uni, and she’s going to make the world better. But she is also a teenager, and that comes with testing boundaries and starting to figure out who she is.
This process is made more acute when her troubled cousin Marley comes to stay. Seeing how different his experience of being Indigenous has been sets Layla on a path to explore herself in more detail.
Much of this novel is vivid and well portrayed. In particular, I felt Tisdell really hit the mark in scenes touching on issues like teenage uncertainty around sex, conflict in friendships, and the feeling that adults just don’t understand. Her characters are vibrant and most readers will either recall or be experiencing these feelings – they’re vividly portrayed.
I found scenes where Layla was beginning to acknowledge her heritage more strongly, and to push back against the way others saw it or treated her, powerful and realistic. Although this is specific to the experience of Indigenous people in Australia, others may see links to their own experiences around race or gender. Many will recognise echoes of Layla’s experiences.
The one flaw of the novel, though, is that sometimes it sounds a little bit like a lecture. It’s true that I read this novel partly in hopes that I’d gain another perspective on Indigenous people’s experiences. I did get this through Layla’s experiences, and her reflections on the experiences of other Indigenous people she knows.
However, there were some sections where Layla’s voice faltered, and I felt that I was receiving a lecture, not seeing a teenage girl become more thoughtful about aspects of her cultural heritage and experience. These (short) sections were also the least interesting to read.
This is a thoughtful novel. As well as providing a strong perspective on Indigenous culture and the experience of racism – including what you might call inadvertent racism – it’s a novel that portrays the late teenage years well. It may also encourage young readers to be more thoughtful about their own cultures, and about how they react to others who come from cultures different to their own.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
An edited version of this review first appeared on www.beautyandlace.net as part of their bookclub.
November 21, 2024
‘Content warning: This book contains sexual content, a suicide attempt, drug use, intergenerational trauma and racism against First Nations people. Discretion is advised.’
I first became aware of Ydinji woman Steph Tisdell while watching ‘Total Control’. Her role as Joely McKinnon captured and held my attention, and when I saw that she had published a novel, I could not wait to read it.
Observe the content warning, but don’t be deterred by it. While it is over fifty years since I was seventeen, I remember many of the challenges. In this novel, seventeen-year-old Layla is in her last year of school. Layla has big plans for the future and needs to do well at school. But belonging is important as well, and when Layla’s best friend finds another best friend and her troubled cousin Marley comes to stay, Layla’s plans are disrupted. Layla is Indigenous and even her well-intentioned favourite teacher makes assumptions that cause Layla pain. And then, Layla falls in love. Layla’s parents are supportive and because Layla has always done well at school, some of the early signals that all is not well are not recognised.
Ms Tisdell combines humour and insight to bring Layla to life. She is caught between cultural and personal expectations, conscious of her responsibilities but overwhelmed (at least temporarily) by circumstance. Where do you belong when you are the only Indigenous student at a middle-class high school? How do you fit in? And what about Marley?
‘So many decisions had been taken away from my people and pain was laid down in their place. My life had always been marred by complicated desires.’
Confronting, thought-provoking, and a reminder that the past is always present.
This is a young adult novel, recommended for readers aged over fifteen years old.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
I first became aware of Ydinji woman Steph Tisdell while watching ‘Total Control’. Her role as Joely McKinnon captured and held my attention, and when I saw that she had published a novel, I could not wait to read it.
Observe the content warning, but don’t be deterred by it. While it is over fifty years since I was seventeen, I remember many of the challenges. In this novel, seventeen-year-old Layla is in her last year of school. Layla has big plans for the future and needs to do well at school. But belonging is important as well, and when Layla’s best friend finds another best friend and her troubled cousin Marley comes to stay, Layla’s plans are disrupted. Layla is Indigenous and even her well-intentioned favourite teacher makes assumptions that cause Layla pain. And then, Layla falls in love. Layla’s parents are supportive and because Layla has always done well at school, some of the early signals that all is not well are not recognised.
Ms Tisdell combines humour and insight to bring Layla to life. She is caught between cultural and personal expectations, conscious of her responsibilities but overwhelmed (at least temporarily) by circumstance. Where do you belong when you are the only Indigenous student at a middle-class high school? How do you fit in? And what about Marley?
‘So many decisions had been taken away from my people and pain was laid down in their place. My life had always been marred by complicated desires.’
Confronting, thought-provoking, and a reminder that the past is always present.
This is a young adult novel, recommended for readers aged over fifteen years old.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
November 23, 2024
Layla is preparing for her final year of secondary school. She is trying to get ready for the most important year of her school life, not fight with her mum, work out her friendship circle and get used to her troubled cousin Marley coming to live with them for a while. Oh, and work out how her indigenous culture fits in with her world.
Layla’s rocky road of being a teenager and finding her identity is a road that many teenagers will connect with. Making the right friends, going to parties, getting schoolwork done and having crushes are all part of the teenage years. Layla makes some choices that are impulsive, but she also shows her vulnerable side at the choices and the angst that comes with some of them. Tisdell is able to write with a direct yet vulnerable style, so it is easy to become a fan of Layla and hope that things work out for her.
Tisdell creates Layla’s world with a gritty dose of reality. She doesn’t sugar coat the complexities of growing up as a teenager and adds another layer of additional challenges for Laya who is not only a teenage, but an aboriginal teenager in a predominately white world around her.
Tisdell has woven some big personality supporting characters into Layla’s world that both challenge and support Layla as she navigates the world around her. The Skin I’m In has quick and easy to read chapters and is suitable for a 13+ readership.
Layla’s rocky road of being a teenager and finding her identity is a road that many teenagers will connect with. Making the right friends, going to parties, getting schoolwork done and having crushes are all part of the teenage years. Layla makes some choices that are impulsive, but she also shows her vulnerable side at the choices and the angst that comes with some of them. Tisdell is able to write with a direct yet vulnerable style, so it is easy to become a fan of Layla and hope that things work out for her.
Tisdell creates Layla’s world with a gritty dose of reality. She doesn’t sugar coat the complexities of growing up as a teenager and adds another layer of additional challenges for Laya who is not only a teenage, but an aboriginal teenager in a predominately white world around her.
Tisdell has woven some big personality supporting characters into Layla’s world that both challenge and support Layla as she navigates the world around her. The Skin I’m In has quick and easy to read chapters and is suitable for a 13+ readership.
October 23, 2024
as a teenager I inhaled all sorts of YA fiction about finding yourself and wanting to fit in. but I never really shared the same core identity struggle. plus the most diverse protagonists we got in the 90s were Italian (no shade, I love Alibrandi and her sisters.) but like the protagonist in Tisdell's debut novel, I spent a lot of my teenage years never feeling Aboriginal enough, feeling conspicuous and wanting to be inconspicuous at the same time. here, it's reflected in a funny, readable, yet still complex way. this is honestly this is the kind of book I craved during my teenage years. at the start I wasn't sure whether the tone or references were appropriate for 17 yr olds nowdays (but what would I know honestly) yet the plot barrels along and quickly settles those doubts. quite sure I'd recognise Layla if she walked in the room right now. It's giving Never Have I Ever but on the page and is such a bloody good read. a very welcome and funny rewrite of the coming-of-age story that all readers can connect with–I think non-Aboriginal readers will get something out of it too.
February 25, 2025
Our Review...
Layla is in her final year of high school, and she has high expectations of herself in order to pursue her next steps.
She has always tried to blend in and not draw too much attention to herself, but when her family takes in her young cousin Marley, Layla sees herself for who she really is for the first time.
Navigating adolescence is difficult enough, but for Layla, she is confronted with her Indigenous identity and culture, as well as social expectations, family connectedness, and perhaps even falling in love for the first time.
Steph Tisdell, a proud Ydinji woman, is a brilliant writer and actor and a comedic star. Her young adult novel is written with humour, lived experience, and power. It is a timely read for all teens experiencing identity formation, questioning how they fit into the world, but also to educate and empower on the realities for First Nations people at present.
Witty and poignant, highly recommended.
Review by Lydia @ Great Escape Books
Layla is in her final year of high school, and she has high expectations of herself in order to pursue her next steps.
She has always tried to blend in and not draw too much attention to herself, but when her family takes in her young cousin Marley, Layla sees herself for who she really is for the first time.
Navigating adolescence is difficult enough, but for Layla, she is confronted with her Indigenous identity and culture, as well as social expectations, family connectedness, and perhaps even falling in love for the first time.
Steph Tisdell, a proud Ydinji woman, is a brilliant writer and actor and a comedic star. Her young adult novel is written with humour, lived experience, and power. It is a timely read for all teens experiencing identity formation, questioning how they fit into the world, but also to educate and empower on the realities for First Nations people at present.
Witty and poignant, highly recommended.
Review by Lydia @ Great Escape Books
May 24, 2025
I bought this book on the recommendations of the book seller at RiverBends Books. It was a great story and more than that.
I am not Indigenous Australian. I have a growing awareness of the killings, deprivation and hardship Australian Indigenous peoples have experienced for generations. I try to do the right thing.
Layla is a good girl. An A grade student, a loving family and all is good until it isn't. Her cousin Marley comes to live with the family. He grew up on country and is Blackfella. Her BFF dumps Layla, and suddenly she starts to question everything. New friends help her survive. Year 12 Australian History covers the murder and mistreatment of Australian Indigenous peoples, and the teacher handles it badly. Layla is tired to the core of nice white people getting it so wrong. She is angry and rebels. How does that work out for her and her family?
The story addresses important contemporary issues. The story is strong and carries it well.
Recommended for readers who enjoy a story with strong characters and those who want to learn, hear and see.
I am not Indigenous Australian. I have a growing awareness of the killings, deprivation and hardship Australian Indigenous peoples have experienced for generations. I try to do the right thing.
Layla is a good girl. An A grade student, a loving family and all is good until it isn't. Her cousin Marley comes to live with the family. He grew up on country and is Blackfella. Her BFF dumps Layla, and suddenly she starts to question everything. New friends help her survive. Year 12 Australian History covers the murder and mistreatment of Australian Indigenous peoples, and the teacher handles it badly. Layla is tired to the core of nice white people getting it so wrong. She is angry and rebels. How does that work out for her and her family?
The story addresses important contemporary issues. The story is strong and carries it well.
Recommended for readers who enjoy a story with strong characters and those who want to learn, hear and see.
July 6, 2025
3.5
This was a great book and had some very important messages, it dealt with heavy and important themes in a great way. Unfortunately, there was just a little too much going on, it felt like the author tried to talk about half of the worlds problems in one book, and so a lot of them were not focused on enough and kind of just brushed past. The writing was also not great, it did improve, but it felt like reading the diary of a high school student, which I guess was kind of the point but ended up annoying me. I liked Layla, she was a good and very real main character, but I didn’t really like any of the other characters much, not sure why. And it did not feel like they were in year 12! Maybe year 10, but not 12! They never were doing any homework or study and barely had any consequences for skipping school.
Overall a decently enjoyable book with very important messages, there was just a bit too much going on for one book and I just could not overlook the writing.
This was a great book and had some very important messages, it dealt with heavy and important themes in a great way. Unfortunately, there was just a little too much going on, it felt like the author tried to talk about half of the worlds problems in one book, and so a lot of them were not focused on enough and kind of just brushed past. The writing was also not great, it did improve, but it felt like reading the diary of a high school student, which I guess was kind of the point but ended up annoying me. I liked Layla, she was a good and very real main character, but I didn’t really like any of the other characters much, not sure why. And it did not feel like they were in year 12! Maybe year 10, but not 12! They never were doing any homework or study and barely had any consequences for skipping school.
Overall a decently enjoyable book with very important messages, there was just a bit too much going on for one book and I just could not overlook the writing.
January 7, 2025
I'm definitely not the target audience and I'm sure this will be an amazing life affirming work for the intended audience in a similar way that Looking for Alabrandi and Raincheck on Timbuktu was for me and my generation.
I struggled to plow through this. It's heavy. The last 75 percent was incredibly draining so ended up finishing it as an audiobook. Steph did a great job narrating.
It's all the things most of the other ratings here have said, and as much as it wasn't for me, I can see that it's an important and necessary work and Steph's work will undoubtedly start a lot of hard conversations and make a whole lot of young people feel seen.
I hope this book is read and taught widely
I struggled to plow through this. It's heavy. The last 75 percent was incredibly draining so ended up finishing it as an audiobook. Steph did a great job narrating.
It's all the things most of the other ratings here have said, and as much as it wasn't for me, I can see that it's an important and necessary work and Steph's work will undoubtedly start a lot of hard conversations and make a whole lot of young people feel seen.
I hope this book is read and taught widely
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