Skellig Mass Market Paperback – September 11, 2001

This is the book that I checked out in fifth grade that made me fall in love with books. I was so lost in the story that when I was reading, I couldn’t hear anybody talking to me. I was fully submerged in every page. I was 10 when I checked this book out and now my daughter is 10 years old and I bought her a copy. I’m really hoping she enjoys it as much as I did. It’s an amazing storyline in every school library should have a copy!!!!

I recently reviewed another book, The Reading Group Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Start Your Own Book Club, written by Rachel W. Jacobsohn. One way to read a book is to look for design, "an interweaving of theme, images, symbols" (131) which work together to create a superb symphony of words and ideas in story form."Skellig" is most definitely like that. Every character, every line, every nuance are part of a totality, a symphony, if you will, of great depth, of transcendent mysticism. The word "skellig" is an Irish word which means rock and is the name of one of the most famous monasteries in the world: Skellig Michael off the coast of Kerry, Ireland. It was renowned in the medieval period because of its rugged, stormy living conditions and the endurance of its monks.The poetry, the mysticism of William Blake are part of the story. Looking for angels. Feeling shoulder blades for wings. Bird bones. Evolution. A very sick baby that may or may not live. The being who lives in a sustained state behind the tea chests and other junk in the garage, who may or may not be an angel. Or a bird.Michael and his parents and their very sick baby move into a house that needs much work. In exploring, Michael finds the being whose name is Skellig. He eats bugs and small animals and Chinese take-out. He is beautiful. Michael meets a girl, a year younger, who is home-schooled and reads Blake and draws birds. Her name is Mina (Wilhemina=William). She teaches Michael how to listen deeply to the sounds of baby birds in their nests. He teaches her how to blow owl sounds using his hands. Together they form a wondrous bond with Skellig.If I have conveyed just a hint of the wonder and magic of this incredible novel, then I have succeeded. What David Almond recreated in this *Honor novel is that openness of our child-like state to things beyond the mundane, the earth-bound, to magic and mysticism and otherworldliness where angels may leap to earth and its bindedness to tend to matters.*Note: "Skellig" was named an honor book by the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature in 2000, when Monster) by Walter Dean Meyers won the medal.

I love the combination of sketches and story.

I had been told for many years to read David Almond's work, and I finally decided to download "Skellig" when finding some books for my new Kindle. I can't believe I didn't read this sooner. I guess this book had been marketed toward younger people, and the story is definitely accessible for older children, but it really is great for anyone of any age."Skellig" is dreamlike and mysterious, thoughtful, both visceral and philosophical, beautiful and concise prose. I made myself stretch it out over a few days, but I could see this novel being devoured in just an hour or two. The day after I finished I went and got a hard copy of "My Name is Mina", the "prequel" from the library, and it was equally as excellent.I recommend this if you like semi-surreal fiction, if you're looking for a book that ponders knowledge and purpose, or if you simply appreciate lovely writing. I feel this is also one of those books that you should read a few different times in your life because can read it differently each time. So if you like it, keep it in your collection!

I read Skellig with an 11year-old boy, and we both enjoyed it. A work of fantasy, Skellig is filled with ambuguity, which I found intetesting but which frustrated my young friend. The motifs of flying and growth is in tension with the motifs of death and decay. The novel centers around Michael and his infant sister, who is fighting for her life. Michael finds a homeless, nearly dying old man in his garage and starts bringing him food and makes a new friend. He learns to see the miraculous in the world.

Anita Silvey spoke about this extraordinary book and so I read it. It is. An uplifting dance in the dark.

But then, my basic expectations of things of that nature, preclude some of the details involved, here.SpoilerMaybe they were trying to do an Aragorn thing, looks foul, feels fair, but that only works for me for people. For supernatural, if there's anything foul, it's not divine. Doesn't mean it can't be humble and disguised, but there were too many details that felt off. So it's a weird story, that wasn't worth the time invested for me.

Don't get confused by Skellig's "Children's Book" label. This story is deep and thought-provoking. Children can certainly read and enjoy it, but many of the subtleties might go unnoticed.The book's protagonist, Michael, is one of the most instantly sympathetic characters I've ever met in a story. David Almond tells the story gracefully, with few words, ignoring what is not relevant. The result is that the story was somewhat shorter than I'd expected it to be, but no matter. It's still excellent. Skellig, the mysterious birdlike man he befriends, and Mina, the artistic girl next door, are powerful supporting characters. The parents in the story, though minor characters, are nevertheless sympathetic and well-drawn.Definitely worth a read, especially for readers who enjoyed Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet or Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea series.