The Skin I'm In

The Skin I'm In is the debut novel of First Nations comedian Steph Tisdell, and it's the final shortlisted book on the CBCA Notables list. I'm disappointed that it didn't take out the top gong, because I really enjoyed it. Tisdell is only thirty and she's kept in close touch with all those big adolescent feelings; her protagonist Layla is warm and funny and excellent company, even when she's going through gut-wrenching experiences.

Layla is pretty much the only Indigenous student at her high school, and she's always been a top pupil, her eyes set firmly on university, a law degree, and changing the world. But her final year holds a few unexpected road bumps. Her cousin Marley comes to live with the family, and he's had a rough childhood. Layla loses her best friend to another girl, and studying Australian history brings up uncomfortable questions about her identity and the way her fellow students and even the teachers look at her. Then, as if she didn't have enough distractions, she falls in love...

There is a lot of tough material here: Layla reflects on historic trauma and disadvantage, Marley's mother is a drug addict, there is a suicide attempt, Layla's boyfriend's has an unstable and abusive home life. But Layla is such an engaging character that we are happy to follow her anywhere. It's not so much that she's laugh out loud funny, but she's thoughtful and entertaining and candid. The Skin I'm In is my favourite of the CBCA shortlist, in case you hadn't guessed.