Age: 11-15

Plot: Seventh-grader Maleeka finds another reason to hate school when a new teacher enters the scene. Miss Saunders immediately grabs the attention of her students and her fellow faculty at this inner-city school as a former rich businesswoman with a white birthmark across her face. We soon find out that Maleeka is book smart but she is falling into a bad crowd due to the increasing self-consciousness of her midnight black skin and her mother's oddly sewn clothes. Miss Saunders sees Maleeka's potential to excel and, eventually, the two discover how similar they really are. Maleeka finds solace in writing which Miss Saunders encourages Maleeka to pursue.

Maleeka's character is interesting and truly intriguing as you find out that she has a wonderful heart but a hampered spirit. She also knows the importance of loving oneself, she just can't apply it to herself. We then find out that Maleeka and Miss Saunders are more alike than not as they both instill thoughts of self-love into each other.