SECOND SKIN

Popularity is worn, not earned, in this high-school drama with a supernatural twist. The closest to the popular crowd Samantha Klein ever gets is sitting near them in homeroom. Then queen bee Kylie Frank becomes Sam’s new neighbor, and Sam gets to witness parties and popularity up close. After she goes to Kylie’s house to offer her money to fix a window broken during a popular-crowd party, Sam catches her unzipping her skin. Kylie reveals that the Skin is the source of her popularity, prompting Sam to steal and wear it. Sam’s new spot on top of the social ladder means that she drops her friends and interests for those of the popular crowd. The idea of “popular is not all it’s cracked up to be” is nothing new, and neither is its presentation in this book, despite the gimmick. Sam and her friends are not that interesting to read about, even with the drama and pain caused by the Skin. Set in a distinctive yet difficult-to-read typeface, this is an optional purchase. (Fiction. YA)