What do you think?
Rate this book
Skin
When a freckle on her cheek turns out to be a rare form of melanoma, surgery leaves fourteen-year-old Lexie with a large scar. Suddenly, her confidence has vanished, her friendships have changed and the very thing she has always loved—public speaking—now strikes terror into her heart. A relatable and timely story for teenagers and young adults about overcoming obstacles, navigating friendships and finding out that our worth is far more than just skin deep.
128 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2025
10 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 27, 2025
Skin tells the story of Lexie, a teenager who has it all. Best friend. Perfect family. Beautiful skin. And a student who excels at debating.
But this all goes the wayside when a sudden blemish on Lexie’s skin - on her face no less - turns out to be a dangerous pre-melanoma. Surgery leaves her cheek scarred and her confidence rattled. Especially since, all at the same time, her best friend is starting to hang out more with a girl Lexie doesn’t really like.
Skin is a moving story about the importance of seeing beyond what’s on the outside, beyond the scars, to the person beneath. It’s an important story that encourages teenagers not only to not see past their own scars, but to not judge others on theirs.
After all, every teenage girl who feels the need to cover up their scars, pimples, or blemishes, would benefit from learning that ‘the icing’ is overrated anyway.
For reluctant teenage readers, Skin will give teens confidence to be able to finish reading a whole book is just a few hours! And for those who may struggle with reading, the easy language will help give them the confidence to know they can read a YA book, and enjoy it at the same time.
As a fellow writer of the Rhiza Shorts listing, I’m incredibly proud of this first book in the Rhiza Edge Shorts listing. I’m grateful for the opportunity to receive a free copy of this book for being a member of the beta reading team.
But this all goes the wayside when a sudden blemish on Lexie’s skin - on her face no less - turns out to be a dangerous pre-melanoma. Surgery leaves her cheek scarred and her confidence rattled. Especially since, all at the same time, her best friend is starting to hang out more with a girl Lexie doesn’t really like.
Skin is a moving story about the importance of seeing beyond what’s on the outside, beyond the scars, to the person beneath. It’s an important story that encourages teenagers not only to not see past their own scars, but to not judge others on theirs.
After all, every teenage girl who feels the need to cover up their scars, pimples, or blemishes, would benefit from learning that ‘the icing’ is overrated anyway.
For reluctant teenage readers, Skin will give teens confidence to be able to finish reading a whole book is just a few hours! And for those who may struggle with reading, the easy language will help give them the confidence to know they can read a YA book, and enjoy it at the same time.
As a fellow writer of the Rhiza Shorts listing, I’m incredibly proud of this first book in the Rhiza Edge Shorts listing. I’m grateful for the opportunity to receive a free copy of this book for being a member of the beta reading team.
January 2, 2026
This is a sympathetic and understanding story about fourteen-year old Lexie whose holiday and whole life changes drastically when a mere freckle on her cheek is diagnosed as a rare form of melanoma. Surgery leaves her with a large scar, shattered self-esteem, lost friendships and confidence. She feels self conscious at school, so how can she face a public speaking competition? Encouraged by new friend Moira, also a victim of bullying, to be 'just a little bit badass' Lexie writes a new speech that challenges listeners to look beneath the skin as what lies within is far more interesting and valuable than the wrapping paper.
This sensitive, understanding and encouraging story about teenage vulnerability deserves to be on all school library shelves.
Rhiza 'Shorts' series is a brilliant concept from an Australian Christian traditional publisher, whose various imprints are highly respected in mainstream Kids' Lit scenes.
This sensitive, understanding and encouraging story about teenage vulnerability deserves to be on all school library shelves.
Rhiza 'Shorts' series is a brilliant concept from an Australian Christian traditional publisher, whose various imprints are highly respected in mainstream Kids' Lit scenes.
November 3, 2025
Deborah Kelly captures the teenage experience so perfectly; the voice feels completely authentic, raw, and real. It’s messy, tender, and full of heart. The honesty of the writing meant that despite having clear themes of identity and self-acceptance, it never felt preachy. The writing is beautiful but grounded, and the characters stayed with me long after I finished.
November 26, 2025
I loved this book!
‘Skin’ by Deborah Kelly is such a thoughtful and brave story about identity, self-image and resilience that I really related to. Lexie is a talented public speaker who loves being confident in front of people, but she suddenly faces a life-changing event when a freckle turns out to be melanoma and leaves her with a scar. Overnight everything shifts for the protagonist. Her confidence, her relationships and her sense of self are all affected by the way she now looks, and I think Kelly has handled telling this story, (especially Lexie’s transformation from the lows to the highs), with honesty and warmth. This book shows how both pain and changes in physical appearance can shake us deeply, but also how they can open us up to the possibility of growth and acceptance. I think this book would be well placed in senior school libraries and class reading lists because there is so much to discuss about this one and although it is a quick easy read, it is layered with deep emotional maturity.
What I really liked was Deborah Kelly’s sensitive portrayal of teenage vulnerability. Lexie does not instantly bounce back from her challenges, and the story does not pretend that things are fixed overnight for her either. Instead, Kelly gives space for fear, anger, confusion, but also the slow healing, friendship and new perspectives that comes with significant and sometimes even traumatic events. I think Kelly has such a gift for writing about difficult issues without turning them into typical teenage melodramas. ‘Skin’ is a story that feels real, relatable and hopeful. It is a story that may help readers understand that their own self-worth is more than skin deep and that healing is often a journey rather than a single moment. I highly recommend this one not just to teen readers, but adults wanting a quick and easy read too.
‘Skin’ by Deborah Kelly is such a thoughtful and brave story about identity, self-image and resilience that I really related to. Lexie is a talented public speaker who loves being confident in front of people, but she suddenly faces a life-changing event when a freckle turns out to be melanoma and leaves her with a scar. Overnight everything shifts for the protagonist. Her confidence, her relationships and her sense of self are all affected by the way she now looks, and I think Kelly has handled telling this story, (especially Lexie’s transformation from the lows to the highs), with honesty and warmth. This book shows how both pain and changes in physical appearance can shake us deeply, but also how they can open us up to the possibility of growth and acceptance. I think this book would be well placed in senior school libraries and class reading lists because there is so much to discuss about this one and although it is a quick easy read, it is layered with deep emotional maturity.
What I really liked was Deborah Kelly’s sensitive portrayal of teenage vulnerability. Lexie does not instantly bounce back from her challenges, and the story does not pretend that things are fixed overnight for her either. Instead, Kelly gives space for fear, anger, confusion, but also the slow healing, friendship and new perspectives that comes with significant and sometimes even traumatic events. I think Kelly has such a gift for writing about difficult issues without turning them into typical teenage melodramas. ‘Skin’ is a story that feels real, relatable and hopeful. It is a story that may help readers understand that their own self-worth is more than skin deep and that healing is often a journey rather than a single moment. I highly recommend this one not just to teen readers, but adults wanting a quick and easy read too.
January 25, 2026
An authentic and sympathetic portrayal of a teen grappling with the experience of skin cancer. 14 year old Lexie is a confident and outgoing high school student, preparing for a public speaking competition which will see her front and centre, best face forward. So when a suspect freckle on her face turns out to be skin cancer, she has to grapple with reevaluating what it means to be a true friend and show up self assured in a world that rewards the physically perfect and 'unscarred'. Kelly's writing cleverly crafts realistic teen characters and their heightened experiences in the shorter novella format with depth and ample character development. Highly recommend for early high school readers.
December 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this. Review to come soon.
January 12, 2026
Lexie is a realistically portrayed teenager, navigating the uncertainties of teenage friendships as well as her feelings about the scar she now carries. This novella, which I first read in its early stages as a fellow Rhiza Shorts author, easily held my attention all the way to its satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended from ten year olds to adult readers.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews