Skin (A Roald Dahl Short Story) — Content Guide for Parents

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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
Skin is a short, sharp, frightening story from Roald Dahl, the master of the shocking tale
In Skin, Roald Dahl, one of the world's favourite authors, tells a sinister story about the darker side of human nature. Here, a very unusual painting proves to be more valuable than anyone, especially its owner, could ever have predicted . . .
Skin is taken from the short story collection Someone Like You, which includes seventeen other devious and shocking stories, featuring the wife who serves a dish that baffles the police; a curious machine that reveals the horrifying truth about plants; the man waiting to be bitten by the venomous snake asleep on his stomach; and others.
'The absolute master of the twist in the tale.' (Observer )
This story is also available as a Penguin digital audio download read by Tamsin Greig.
Roald Dahl, the brilliant and worldwide acclaimed author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and many more classics for children, also wrote scores of short stories for adults. These delightfully disturbing tales have often been filmed and were most recently the inspiration for the West End play, Roald Dahl's Twisted Tales by Jeremy Dyson. Roald Dahl's stories continue to make readers shiver today.
Frequently asked questions
Is Skin (A Roald Dahl Short Story) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
'Skin' contains violent themes, including the macabre and shocking nature of the story, which involves a character losing his skin in a literal sense. This aligns with the darker side of human nature that Dahl often explores. 'Skin' is described as a frightening story that delves into the sinister aspects of human nature, which could be unsettling for some readers. The story's macabre elements contribute to its scary tone.
Does Skin (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have violence?
'Skin' contains violent themes, including the macabre and shocking nature of the story, which involves a character losing his skin in a literal sense. This aligns with the darker side of human nature that Dahl often explores.
Does Skin (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have scary content?
'Skin' is described as a frightening story that delves into the sinister aspects of human nature, which could be unsettling for some readers. The story's macabre elements contribute to its scary tone.
Does Skin (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have religious themes?
No religious content in the book itself. The search results reference discussions about Roald Dahl's personal beliefs but do not provide any evidence of religious practices or themes in 'Skin'.
Does Skin (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have racial/cultural content?
No explicit racial themes are present in 'Skin'. The search results do not indicate any discussions of race or racism within the story's narrative.
Does Skin (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have profanity?
No profanity is noted in the text of 'Skin'. The search results mention profanity in other works by Dahl but do not indicate its presence in this story.
Does Skin (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have climate change?
No climate themes are present in 'Skin'. The search results do not mention any environmental issues or climate-related content in the story.
Does Skin (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have sexual identity?
No sexual content is explicitly mentioned in the narrative of 'Skin'. The search results reference other works by Dahl that include sexual themes, but these do not pertain to this specific story.
Does Skin (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have gender roles?
The story does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. While Dahl's works may explore various themes, 'Skin' does not focus on gender dynamics or roles.
Does Skin (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes or characters are present in the narrative of 'Skin' by Roald Dahl. The search results do not indicate any LGBTQ+ content related to this specific story.



