Skellig: Winner of the Carnegie Medal

“They say that shoulder blades are where your wings were, when you were an angel..They say they’re where your wings will grow again one day.” “The kind of thing William Blake saw. He said we were surrounded by angels and spirits. We must just open our eyes a little wider, look a little harder.” When I read a book like this I wonder how I ever lived without it. And I wonder what books are out there that I might be missing. I am searching for wisdom, a bit of magic and a sense of something other worldly in literature that feeds the soul in a broken world. I finished it in a day. It is is utterly deserving of being a classic. Michael and his family have moved home. His baby sister arrived prematurely and is very ill. There are frequent visits from the doctor, hospital appointments and his parents are too distracted to work on the house or to support Michael. The garage is out of bounds, but in his explorations Michael finds an old man there. He is thin, eating insects and calling out numbers. He is Skellig. Michael meets Mina who is being home educated, quotes William Blake, draws incredible pictures and is fascinated by nature. There is so much beauty in this book, so much humanity. The baby occupies our mind from the beginning. Tiny, fragile, hovering between life and death. “ Sometimes I think she’s never quite left Heaven and never quite made it all the way here to Earth. And Michael is hovering too, unable to get on with his life, worrying about his sister. He feels her heartbeat entwined with his own. Skellig is hovering too. Who is he, what is he and what are the protrusions on his shoulder blades. This is a book that you don’t stop reading. It takes up room in your head and is unlikely to vacate. I am left pondering the wings, the owls..and I have picked up William Blake again. I think I need to read Skellig again…I think it has more to say to me. If you haven’t read this beautiful book, do.

Wonderful writing and such a moving and original story

This book is aimed at pre-teens* and explores the feelings of Michael as his baby sister is struggling to survive in hospital. Sensitively written I liked the way Michael's character developed and he became less resentful of the time his parents spent with the new baby. The 'old man' in the garage serves as a welcome distraction for him and whilst unable to help his sister he can try and help Skellig. His relationship with Mina, the girl who lived down the lane, was particularly nice to read about. Through her character the voice of William Blake can be heard, wanting children to be free and able to enjoy nature as opposed to being stuck in the traditional schooling system. The knowledge that she naturally shares with Michael certainly shows the advantages and freedom of learning in a less restricted way. However it could be argued that this idea is more appealing to the adult reader! The traditional school system is not painted too bleakly though, with the warmth and care shown by his teachers and friends being one of the benefits of being part of a school. Skellig the character was certainly unusual and whilst I'm not sure I still really understand the why's and wherefores of some things about him, he was interesting. I could easily see why the children would want to help him and the concept of what he was and what made him better (kind acts) made for a hopeful and unusual look at the effect love has on us. * I think reviewers who think there is too much swearing are being a little OTT. 'Bloody hell' (which is as bad as it gets) is pretty realistic (and even mild) when there are no adults about.

I was alerted to this book after hearing the author David Almond being interviewed on Radio 4. His audience spoke glowingly about this book so I was encouraged to read it. It needs to be remembered that this is a children's book - with short chapters and fairly basic language, although it works just as well for a quick read for adults. I read it in two or three attemps. It is quite compelling and has a ending that in all quite spine chilling - in a nice way. It would be hard not to enjoy this book for children and adults and gives you an insight into a super natural world..I gave my copy to a friend after reading it, hoping they will enjoy it as much as I did......

Genuinely excellent story. Full of moments that bring you to tears. Full of moments that make you laugh. Wonderful details.

This is an amazing book. Quite an unexpected read. Should be on the school curriculum! Suitable for adults and children.

This book is my favourite story of the year!! Meet Michael,an eleven year old boy who meets a thing,not a human,not an animal,a thing.In this terrific tale Michael meets this creature who who is grumpy and grizzly,as the story unfolds this creature tells Michael his name "Skellig" along with Michaels friend Mina we find out more about Skellig Mina is a very clever girl who is homeschooled and her thoughts about school are very strong(that she thinks school is wrong),she is very individual,she is very individual and does not really care about what other people think about her,but Michael has a problem his baby sister has a heart disease that may kill her, and things are not looking good.A couple of questions need to be answered,will Michael,Mina and Skellig work as a team and save the baby? and what is Skellig?Is he an angel or a bird?I think he is an angel that has been sent to guide michael through these hard times.You never find out but clues are given along the way WHAT WILL YOU THINK charlie age 11

Loved this story and the depiction of a child’s thoughts and feelings. The writing takes risks . Page turning events and depictions of imaginary events. Has lots of potential for how a child deals with life events.

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.

Libro scolastico per mio nipote. Ok

I bought it for my 8 year old daughter.After a slow start,she really loved it.Shenhas recommended it to all her friends and cousins.

I read this book as homework for my school. I loved it! I nearly cried in the end! I would recommend this to anyone from 12 to above!

Excellent reading for children