Sweetness in the Skin

By Ishi Robinson | Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

About the book

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2025 OCM BOCAS PRIZE FOR CARIBBEAN LITERATURE

Pumkin Patterson dreams of a life beyond her Jamaican hometown. But what we dream of and where we belong aren’t always the same thing…

‘A dazzling coming-of-age novel with an unforgettable heroine’ Red
--

Eleven-year-old Pumpin knows a few things:

That her mother has never loved her
That Aunt Sophie does
That baking makes everything better
And France is a long way from her Jamaican home

What Pumkin doesn’t know is:

What will happen when Aunt Sophie leaves for France
How far a mother can go to hurt a daughter
Why a secret can rot a family
That her cakes might just help save her life

Whatever happens, Pumkin knows she needs someone to love her.

But she just doesn’t know who . . .
--
Praise for Sweetness in the Skin

‘Serves up a taste of Jamaica that will have you craving coconut drops, gizzada and sweet potato pudding’ The Times

‘Wonderful, tender, vivid’ Glamour

Editions of Sweetness in the Skin

Hardcover
ISBN 9780241643037
Paperback
ISBN 9780241643044
Paperback
ISBN 9781405956789
EBook
ISBN 9781405956796

Read an Excerpt

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2025 OCM BOCAS PRIZE FOR CARIBBEAN LITERATURE

Pumkin Patterson dreams of a life beyond her Jamaican hometown. But what we dream of and where we belong aren’t always the same thing…

‘A dazzling coming-of-age novel with an unforgettable heroine’ Red
--

Eleven-year-old Pumpin knows a few things:

That her mother has never loved her
That Aunt Sophie does
That baking makes everything better
And France is a long way from her Jamaican home

What Pumkin doesn’t know is:

What will happen when Aunt Sophie leaves for France
How far a mother can go to hurt a daughter
Why a secret can rot a family
That her cakes might just help save her life

Whatever happens, Pumkin knows she needs someone to love her.

But she just doesn’t know who . . .
--
Praise for Sweetness in the Skin

‘Serves up a taste of Jamaica that will have you craving coconut drops, gizzada and sweet potato pudding’ The Times

‘Wonderful, tender, vivid’ Glamour

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sweetness in the Skin about?

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2025 OCM BOCAS PRIZE FOR CARIBBEAN LITERATURE

Pumkin Patterson dreams of a life beyond her Jamaican hometown. But what we dream of and where we belong aren’t always the same thing…

‘A dazzling coming-of-age novel with an unforgettable heroine’ Red
--

Eleven-year-old Pumpin knows a few things:

That her mother has never loved her
That Aunt Sophie does
That baking makes everything better
And France is a long way from her Jamaican home

What Pumkin doesn’t know is:

What will happen when Aunt Sophie leaves for France
How far a mother can go to hurt a daughter
Why a secret can rot a family
That her cakes might just help save her life

Whatever happens, Pumkin knows she needs someone to love her.

But she just doesn’t know who . . .
--
Praise for Sweetness in the Skin

‘Serves up a taste of Jamaica that will have you craving coconut drops, gizzada and sweet potato pudding’ The Times

‘Wonderful, tender, vivid’ Glamour

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Sweetness in the Skin?

Fiction > Family life fiction / Stories about family

Where can I read a sample of Sweetness in the Skin?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780241643037

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Sweetness in the Skin?

Ishi Robinson

Who is the Publisher of the book Sweetness in the Skin?

Penguin Books Ltd

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Sweetness in the Skin is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780241643037) and paperback(ISBN 9780241643044) and paperback(ISBN 9781405956789) and ebook(ISBN 9781405956796)

Where can I buy Sweetness in the Skin online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Sweetness in the Skin from below

Where can I buy Sweetness in the Skin?