"Skin Deep" started strongly but soon turned into another teenage romance. However, that's not to say I didn't enjoy this book, because I did. I liked how the chapters alternated between Jenna and Ryan's first person narrative giving the reader a deeper insight into the characters' thoughts and feelings. I especially liked Ryan, who despite being quite egotistical was charming, caring, sensitive, witty, able to see beyond Jenna's scars and, of course, drop-dead gorgeous. I didn't like that his looks at times turned Jenna into a drooling nincompoop when mostly I empathised with her pain, fear, anger and vulnerability. I was also surprised by Jenna and Ryan's ages - 14 and 16. The way they spoke and acted I expected them to be at least two or three years older.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read dealing with a range of issues including first love, friendship, death, betrayal, mental illness, self-perception and acceptance.
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After the car crash that leaves her best friend dead, Jenna is permanently scarred. She struggles to rebuild her life, but every stare in the street, every time she looks in the mirror, makes her want to retreat further from the world. Until she meets Ryan. Ryan is also an outsider. When he and his mother arrive in town she tells him this time it will be different. He doesn't believe her. Until he meets Jenna. As Jenna and Ryan grow closer, repercussions from the crash continue to reverberate through the community. And then a body is found... ( )

SKIN DEEP is quite simply, a beautiful book. It's the story of Jenna, the girl who was horribly disfigured in a tragic car accident, and Ryan, the gypsy traveller who's forced to be more parent than child to his bi-polar Mom.

There are so many things to love about this story: for starters, the title is perfect as the theme of the novel is really about learning the layers of beauty, and how it can bloom or get twisted, the deeper you go. One of the things I liked most was how well each character is developed--even the baddie, Stephen Carlisle, has his reasons.

Throughout the story, characters act heroically, and terribly, each according to their personal journey and their circumstances at the time. Sort of like how real life works, huh?

Imo, it's this sublime craftsmanship--Jarratt's ability to reflect real life at its most personal and challenging--which catapults SKIN DEEP to a higher level. This is a very smart book with a very big heart and I recommend it highly. ( )