Skellig

With the gentle touch of an angel's breath, Almond, in his first novel for children, lets his characters think, feel and believe without overwhelming sentimentality. A dream of a book to touch even the hardest of hearts. --Susan Harrison

Reader Reviews:

Best book ever! (3/3 people found this helpful)

Michael just moved to a new house. His baby sister is dying. He is lonely and worried until he finds a creature in his dilapidated garage and befriends him. He wants to find out why he's there and it's not long before he finds out it wîll change his life forever...

This was my favourite book. It's good for any reader and especially people who like mystery. It's good for both boys and girls. Teh characters are easy to imagine. it's fun to read and once you get going you can't put it down!

It was the best book I've ever read and I would recommend it to anyone!

An enchanting read (2/2 people found this helpful)

I read this book to see if it would be an appropriate read for my seven year old daughter. I only intended to skim read it. However, from the very first page I was gripped. I read the entire book in one evening.

The story is very moving and it is beautifully written. It handles some tough issues very sensitively.

My daughter did read the book after me, and thoroughly enjoyed it too. A great read - for both adults and children.

A beautifully lyrical tale (8/8 people found this helpful)

I read this remarkable little book in the space of a day. It tells the story of a 10 year-old boy, Michael, who discovers a strange and decrepit being in the delapidated garage of his new house. This discovery coincides with the premature birth of his baby sister and so begins a testing period for Michael and his family, as the baby battles to hold on to life. Luckily, Michael has Mina, an extraordinary, home-educated young girl with a penchant for William Blake and an impressive knowledge of the natural - and supernatural - world. Together they coax Skellig out of hiding and as he gains stature so too does their hope for the baby's survival.

The story itself is touching, but for me it was the language the author employs which elevated this novel into the realms of something truly special. Simple, succint, and unpretentious, Almond's words lend Skellig a lyrical beauty that allows the reader to be swept along by Michael's story however fantastical it may seem.

Although I enjoyed it immensely, I can see Skellig dividing opinion among children: many will adore it for the reasons outlined above, while others may find it 'unbelievable'. That said, I would recommend it to readers of any age willing to suspend their disbelief for the sake of a wonderfully written novel.

Matt Pucci

Greatest book ever written (2/3 people found this helpful)

This is a great book. Almond writes soulfully as always, and this is definitely his best. The chapters are nice and short, the plot is fascinating and it doesn't matter what age you are, you will enjoy it!

Skellig (22/26 people found this helpful)

Skellig is a truly magnificent book. It was the second book I read in high school but when we were only on the first few chapters i was so interested in the story that i begged my dad to buy it for me so i could find out what happened in it before everyone else.
It is a truly excellent read, full of beauty, love, friendship and nature. Its many references to past, Greek myths, Darwin, Evolution, William Blake, fossils, athritis, religion, angels and nature, shows just how gripping Almond can make his story.
I cried with Michael, I laughed with Michael and I prayed with him for his sister. A truly unforgettable read, full of richness and splendour!
Skellig and Michael are named after the rocky island of Skellig Michael in County Kerry, Ireland

David Almond

Editorial Review: