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Product Details
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This is Michael's introduction to Skellig, the man-owl-angel who lies motionless behind the tea chests in the abandoned garage in back of the boy's dilapidated new house. As disturbing as this discovery is, it is the least of Michael's worries. The new house is a mess, his parents are distracted, and his brand-new baby sister is seriously ill. Still, he can't get this mysterious creature out of his mind--even as he wonders if he has really seen him at all. What unfolds is a powerful, cosmic, dreamlike tale reminiscent of Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. British novelist David Almond works magic as he examines the large issues of death, life, friendship, love, and the breathtaking connections between all things.
Amidst the intensity and anxiety of his world, Michael is a normal kid. He goes to school, plays soccer, and has friends with nicknames like Leakey and Coot. It's at home where his life becomes extraordinary, with the help of Skellig and Mina, the quirky, strong-willed girl next door with "the kind of eyes you think can see right through you." Mina and her mother's motto is William Blake's "How can a bird that is born for joy / Sit in a cage and sing?" This question carries us through the book, as we see Michael's baby sister trapped in a hospital incubator; as we see the exquisite, winged Skellig crumpled in the garage; as we meet Mina's precious blackbird chicks and the tawny owls in her secret attic; and as we finally see a braver, bolder Michael spread his wings and fly. Skellig was the Whitbread Award's 1998 Children's Book of the Year, and this haunting novel is sure to resonate with readers young and old. (Ages 10 and older) --Karin Snelson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
How many changes 1 boy can go through in life,
By A Customer
This review is from: Skellig (Paperback)
I recommend Skellig for 10-14 years old boys and girls. If you like mysteries and like to be left hanging, this is definitely a book to read! I liked this book because of the weird things that happened. There are some things that leave you wondering. At one point in the book the old man says, "27 and 53" and you might think it doesn't have to do with anything, but it appears throughout the whole book. Mike's friend says to him, "What's wrong with you?" That leaves you hanging because by this point you're so into the book, you want to know what happened. Even though it's not one of those really important parts but it's a mystery that the author throws in to keep you wondering. But in the end you finally find the answer to all the mystery's and the problems. That was why I liked this book because at first I was confused but in the end it all came together.
3.0 out of 5 stars
What's all the fuss about?,
By
This review is from: Skellig (Paperback)
I read this to my daughter a few years ago, and for the life of me I can't figure out why this won awards in Britain. It's a strange little story, but neither characters nor the plot are all that interesting. The writing is fine but nothing to brag about. It's just O.K.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Skellig,
By A Customer
This review is from: Skellig (Paperback)
I find Skellig to be a book about discovery and of oneself and about doing kind acts that are often unnoticed.
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