A review by amandamlyons
The Skin and Its Girl by Sarah Cypher

5.0

It would be easy to assume this might be a book of magical realism or something intended to be quirky or offbeat if you weren't paying attention to the elements of the narrative unfolding in front of you. Our main character, Betty, is born an inexplicable shade of blue and she is surrounded by complex feminine figures with a knack for shifts at times of great change, but the story isn't about how she became something beyond human understanding so much as it's about how she and her family manage to make a life in spite of being so very different from other's expectations. Don't let the lack of fantasy fool you, this is a unique book with rich characters, complex narrative elements, and a blend of symbolism, purpose, and personal stories driving the plot.