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Sweetness in the Skin

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Sweetness in the Skin

By: Ishi Robinson
Narrated by: Deja Bowens
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Pumkin Patterson dreams of a life beyond her Jamaican hometown. But what we dream of and where we belong aren’t always the same thing…

For Pumkin Patterson, family is complicated.
There’s her mother Paulette, who only sees Pumkin as a nuisance. There’s her beloved Auntie Sophie, who has always talked of she and Pumkin travelling to new horizons. And there’s her grandmother, who has always favoured Sophie over Paulette.
When Sophie moves to France for work, she promises to send for her niece in one year’s time. All Pumkin has to do is pass her French entrance exam. But when Pumkin’s mother finds out, she’s determined that her sister won’t get her own way this time.
Now forced to raise the money for her exam in secret, Pumkin turns to her loyal friends to help her secure her way out . . . while evading her mother’s suspicions.

But while Pumkin dreams of her escape, could happiness be closer to home than she thinks?

©2024 Ishi Robinson (P)2024 Penguin Audio
Coming of Age Family Life Literary Fiction France Dream Exam
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Critic reviews

Delightful. This tender, humorous, coming-of-age tale celebrates the flavours and language of Jamaica (Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake)
Sweetness in the Skin is a tender exploration of familial love, both the family you’re born to, and the one you find along the way. Robinson has written a treatise on the effects of colourism and class divisions that is heartbreaking and raw, yet joyful. This vivid story transported me to Pumkin’s world through an excursion of the senses, the sights, the sounds, and especially the tastes of Jamaica, taking me back to the one journey I took to my fatherland and leaving me yearning to return. (Charlene Carr, author of Hold My Girl)

What listeners say about Sweetness in the Skin

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I love the way the story was told

I love the start and the end. the middle dragged a bit and characters a bit difficult to remember. however overall a lovely story with lessons to learn on parenting, self awareness and acceptance l. I'll certainly recommend.

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Cultural realness

Love everything about this, recognising difference and the grass is rarely green where we think it is

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  • Overall
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How to discover your real self

An amazing exploration of a young Jamaican girl discovering who she really is, as she seeks to conceal her ‘downtown’ identity from her uptown friends. But who are are real friends, and who is she?
Beautiful writing. I felt Pumpkin’s pain. I tasted the mangoes. I devoured the grater cakes.

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Just how real this seemed! WONDERFULLY WRITTEN!

How true to Jamaican life this may be for some that live on that beautiful island! The narrator is softly spoken and nails the different characters perfectly! The story line was very well written!! This is definitely a great read!!

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A book full of wonderful characters!

I’m so glad I’ve listened to this wonderful story, brought alive by the brilliant narration!
It was chosen for our Bookclub and is definitely one of my favourite reads!
It is a story about determination to succeed in the face of adversity, true friendships and support from unlikely sources.
It also gave a glimpse into Jamaican life and the vast gulf in wealth and lifestyle between people of different backgrounds!
I would love a sequel and be able to follow Pumpkin’s further adventures!

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An interesting plot…

Pumpkin stood out the most, a very well-written character. There were other lovable characters, Boots for example and Aunt Sophie. The plot was very long and drawn out though.

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Beautifully written

This book in m top 5 this year. Wonderfully narrated story about characters bought to life. I felt Pumpkins pain and frustration.

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