Skin

by Deborah Kelly

Overview

Public speaking phenom, Lexie, is on her way to represent her school at the Speech state finals, with dreams of reaching nationals. But that is before a freckle on her cheek turns out to be a rare form of melanoma, skin cancer, that requires surgery. Now, with a large scar on her face, her world changes and she no longer recognizes herself.

Her confidence has vanished, her friendships are changing and the very thing she has always loved—public speaking—now strikes terror into her heart. When a chance encounter turns into an unexpected friendship, Lexie's feelings about her scar, and herself, are challenged. Can she find a way to explore her ordeal with her ambitions for winning the state Speech competition?

A relatable and easy read for teenagers and young adults about overcoming obstacles, navigating friendships and finding out that our worth is far more than just skin deep.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781761112454
Publisher:	Exisle Publishing
Publication date:	07/15/2025
Series:	Rhiza Shorts , #1
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.75(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Deb Kelly is a multi-award winning, internationally published author of picture books, junior fiction, short stories and middle grade for children.

Her middle grade novel The Thing about Oliver (Wombat Books) was shortlisted in the younger readers category of the Children’s Book Council of Australia awards, shortlisted for Speech Pathology Australia’s Book of the Year, and won the Australian Association of Family Therapists book of the year award in the younger readers category. It was recently added to the NSW school curriculum for Stage 3 students.

Her picture book Me and You (Penguin Viking) won Speech Pathology Australia’s Book of the Year award (3–5-year-olds) in 2017.

Many of Deborah’s books are included in Premier’s Reading Challenge lists around Australia. She frequently visits schools, libraries, and festival events to share her books with children. She is also a Role Model for Books in Homes and reviews children’s books for Reading Time magazine.

Editorial Reviews

2025-01-18
An Australian girl grows in understanding after surgery alters her appearance.

Fourteen-year-old Lexus “Lexie” Collins is looking forward to spending the upcoming two weeks of vacation hanging out with her best friend, Jess, and preparing for the New South Wales public speaking finals when she notices a new freckle on her usually clear skin. Her mother insists that she see a doctor, and Lexie learns that she has a spitzoid nevus, a mole that’s a type of pre-melanoma and must be removed from her cheek immediately. The resulting incision makes Lexie feel self-conscious, to the point where she avoids Jess and even considers dropping out of the speech competition. But when she gets to know schoolmate Moira Carpenter, who’s confident and friendly despite severe eczema that makes her a target of bullies, Lexie comes to understand that who people are on the inside is more important than how they look. At the beginning of the book, Lexie has judgmental thoughts about a teacher’s makeup and tacitly agrees with other girls’ cruel assessment of Moira’s appearance, but her experiences help her develop kindness and empathy. This short, accessible novel may appeal to readers struggling with issues of body image and appearance.

An engaging reluctant reader–friendly novel with a clear character arc.(Fiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews