Novela que aborda con magia y soltura grandes temas, como la vida, la muerte, la amistad. ( )

A thoughtful and slightly spiritual book that follows Michael as he moves to a new house and along with his parents copes with his premature baby sister who seems to be constantly near death. One of the things he discovers in the new house is a strange winged man who is something between a man and a bird. Michael and his new friend, Mina, who is home schooled try to help this man called Skellig and throughout it learn to look at the world in new ways.

This book is recommended for ages nine to twelve and is quite appropriate but could also be read by a slightly older reader who is trying to deal with grief and the confusion that comes about when a child is so close to death. The only issue with this book is that there is a rather heavy Christian spirituality angle that is brought through the poetry of William Blake that Mina loves and also the words of Skellig, the winged man. This is an aspect that could be the beginning of many discussions of how we see creation in the beauty of nature and what are different thoughts about what happens after death. Overall this is a powerful and simple novel that does a good job of dealing with the fragility of life. ( )

Skellig is a childrens fantasy novel written by David Almond, this is also the first book to have been written by David Almond and is often read in UK secondary schools to be studied in the English language. Earlier this year, Skellig was adpated into a TV mini-series and was aired during Easter on Sky1. Skellig nowadays is undeniably one of the most important childrens books around this century and a must read. The story follows in the first-person of young Michael as he moves into his new home.

Michael looked forward to moving house, but as his baby sister was prematurely born and his parents frantic with worry about the baby's health Michael feels annoyed and frustrated. When he ventures down to the 'garage' Michael comes across an extraordinary being...Skellig. A shrivelled, dusty, old man who seems to neither care or take notice that he is living and quickly meeting his death in a garage. Michael continues to visit Skellig and asks if he would like anything, his answer "...27 and 53...".
Busy with the poorly baby, the decorating of their new house, Michael's family hasn't time for cooking food so Michaels father sends him round the chinese takeaway, bringing back a 27 and 53...Skellig's dinner. Soon, he learns 'old Arthur'
(Arthritis) has got into Skellig's bones and he is unable to move.
Michael finally meets his new neighbor, Mina, she is home-educated believing school takes the fun and joy from learning. Mina is extremely observant and a clever, yet mysterious character. Once introduced to Skellig she displays great sympathy and interest in him, she offers to move Skellig into a house that was left to her by her recently bereaved grandfather. Skellig neither agrees nor resists being taken to the house and so they move him to allow him more comfort and to heal. Mina takes his jacket from his shoulders.
Michael and Mina look on in awe at Skellig's amazing secret. Skellig let's tears falls from his eyes as his brilliant feathered wings unfurl from his back...

I really enjoyed reading this book, as expected it was a very easy read. Which of course was no suprise as it was only 170 pages with a somewhat size fourteen font and not to mention a childrens book. Despite being intended for children I still enjoyed reading it, Skellig is a unique book and an effective way of introducing children to the reading world. Skellig, I would say definitely is one of the must reads for children along with the Harry Potter series and such...Kit's Wilderness, David Almond's second novel is meant to be good too, I'm going to read that soon! ( )

I owe this entirely to Nick Hornby. Skellig was always a book that jumped out at me when I was working at the bookshop, but despite it being very short, I somehow never read it. Until Nick Hornby, self-confessed YA fiction-phobic author extraordinaire wrote his fabulous review in one of his Believer columns (Shakespeare Wrote for Money).

Skellig is the tale of love, loss and hope. It is the story of Michael, a young boy whose prematurely born sister is fighting for life in a hospital incubator while he and his family move home to try and make a new start. Michael loves his sister, feels an strange and strong connection with her, but he also feels lonely and detached from the events taking place. His parents attentions elsewhere, Michael spends his time exploring the new house and garden, and becoming friends with Mina, the home-educated girl next door. But it is the crumbling run-down garage that Michael discovers Skellig, a strange ailing creature huddled in the dark, living off scraps. Is he a man, an owl? Or something very very different?

Skellig could not have been more beautiful if David Almond had tried. It was perfect. A perfect, special tale that brought a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat. I could do nothing after putting the book down but sit and smile to myself, bathing in all Skellig's tender glory. Certainly one of the most beautiful books I have ever read, I bought a copy for a friend right away and heartily recommend it to everyone. Thankfully, this is part of the school curriculum for Year Five and Six (9-10 yrs old) in the UK, so most children will get a chance to enjoy Almond's wonderful writing. As for myself, I shall thank Nick Hornby for this one and will be reading more of the great David Almond's work in future.

The main character, a young boy named Michael, finds an almost decomposing creature in the garage of his family's new house. The creature can barely speak, demands aspirin and Chinese takeout, and seems to be made of crumbling porcelain. As Michael's family struggles to keep his prematurely born infant sister alive, Michael struggles with whether or not his discovery of the creature is reality or a symptom of insanity. The author cleverly quotes William Blake, a brilliant man who claimed to see angels in his back yard and had his own struggles with reality. Mina, Michael's new neighbor, is home-schooled and lives by the Blake line "How can a bird that is born for joy/Sit in a cage and sing?" The rest of the novel sees Michael learning to answer this question, and his growth is both intriguing and touching. ( )

Reviewed by Patricia A. Dollisch in School Library Journal (Feb99, Vol. 45 Issue 2, p104, 1/4p)
Found review through HW Wilson collection
http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta...

Beautifully written in a way that makes you empathise with the main characters. It's real brilliance is in it's subtlety reporting Skellig's miracles one stage removed. ( )

I picked this one up on the recommendation of others, but I wasn't really expecting anything from it. It didn't "look" very good, and usually I get a pretty good sense from a book when I'm holding it whether I'll like it or not (I jokingly call it my 'book sixth sense'... okay, now you all think I'm crazy), and this one didn't really seem like my kind of thing...

Was I ever wrong. I don't want to get into plot details because I really think this is a book you need to experience for yourself, but let me say this: when you turn the last page of the book, after the last word has been read, make sure you give yourself a few moments. Allow the sense of the book, the words and the sentiments evoked to wash over you. Absorb the truth behind the fantastic. I finished this book in a coffee shop and had brought along an action-oriented chick lit book to read afterward, but I simply couldn't do it - I didn't want to tarnish what I'd just read.

Needless to say, I'm very, very glad I gave this one a try. ( )

Michael and his parents, looking forward to a new baby, move to a big house in need of renovations. When the baby is born prematurely and there is the possibility she may die, the family share their anxiety. In this heightened mood Michael finds Skellig, an angel definitely not of the Christmas card variety, in their old rubbish-filled shed. With the help of his new neighbour, Mina, the pair find a more suitable place for Skellig and help him recover his strength. Mina is home-schooled and presents an opposite picture to Michael's school

David Almond is one of those authors who is called a children's author, but whose writing is really timeless.

Not everyone will love Skellig. It is not full of action and adventure. Instead it is more of a mystery around the nature of the curious character living in a shed, called Skellig - and the stresses placed upon a family when a new baby is born with a life threatening heart defect.

But this is a beautiful book, written simply, yet with hidden depths. There is a little humour, and lots of keen observations on life, but ultimately a story of friendship, hope and just a little magic.

Highly recommended - unless you only like action adventures! ( )

A deeply satisfying book about youth, discovery, the mysteries of life and love. Highly, highly recommended. ( )

Beautiful and moving. The prose is breathtakingly in its simplicity. A must. ( )

An amazing story with the fantasy aspect so subtle you practically expect to find a bird man in any attic or shed. I found I could relate my younger self to the character's easily. ( )

I like this book because it is exciting and makes you want to read on ( )

When Michael moves into his new home he decides to go into the rundown garage and there he finds something that will make his new place a little more interesting. Michael has a new friend, Skelllig, who is a mystery that Michael wants to figure out. A charming book about life and the powers of love.

England, boy finds angel? in new house, baby sister might die. No red flags. Age 8-12.

After reading Almond's Kit's Wilderness, I was interested in finding some of his other YA books. I'm glad I did!

Michael is a ten year old boy whose life is confused and troubled when his family moves to a run down, ramshackled house. Both the house and the family are in dire need of repair as we learn that a tiny, newborn baby sister is gravely ill.

I liked the way Almond portrayed Michael's emotions in relation to the sibling who at first elicited jealously and then a transformative metamorphosis occurred when David began to want the best for the struggling infant.

While stumbling around in broken down garage, Michael discovers a sickly creature-like man named Skellig. Michael is drawn outside of his own troubles when he altruistically assists Skellig.

When showing his new-found friend Mina his discovery, they both embark on a magical journey of caring as they reach out to Skellng by providing food and shelter.

This book is mythological regarding the deep emotions set in place when David is forever changed by helping and caring for and about others.

I rate this five stars for the magical portrayal of the adage "in helping others we are indeed helped."

Skellig is a wonderful book to read during the holiday season when we are reminded of the power and beauty of love.

This is a story of things and people who are broken down and in need of fixing.

This is a story of people who find redemption in the power of love. ( )

Kids find sick, winged man;

also, baby is dying.

Does winged man cure her? ( )

This book was beautiful and mysterious. I couldn't put it down. ( )

This was the first of David Almond's books that I've read, Skellig was mesmerizing even when I couldn't get a handle on the creature or the story. With each read I have a different reaction, but all are deeply satisfying. This book works for me on some unconscious layer. ( )

Shurie Geis
EDCI 4120
7-24-08

Almond, David (1998). Skellig. New York: Random House, Inc.

Grade Levels: 6-8

Category: Science Fiction

Read-Alouds: pp.18-23 (meeting Skellig and Mina), 37-44 (baby sick, finding house), 84-87 (moving Skellig), 131-134 (finding out about Skellig), 179-182 (Skellig heals baby, and leaves)

Summary: Michael’s life is in chaos. His parents just had another baby, a girl, but she is deathly ill. They moved into an old rundown house. Then, he finds Skellig, in the garage. Skellig is a man with wings, but he too is very sick. He and his new friend Mina move Skellig to another abandoned house, and he makes vast improvements quickly. Soon, Skellig is ready to move on, and Michael and Mina are very sad. Before he leaves, Skellig goes to the hospital where Michael’s sister is and heals her. In the end, Michael’s sister gets to come home and is well, and Skellig leaves.

Themes: The main theme is family unity. Michael’s family is going through a really tough time, but with Skellig’s help, Michael sees what he can do to help, and it gets better. There is a lot left to the imagination with Skellig himself. The novel deals with friendship and sickness as well.
Discussion Questions:
Why does Michael want to take Mina to see Skellig? Is this successful?
What about Skellig is the most intriguing to you, how does this affect the story?
How is Michael’s family changed throughout the novel? Compare the beginning to the end.

Reader Response: I really enjoyed this story. The novel leaves a lot of room for imagination and interpretation. The story is very open ended and it is easy to connect with each of the characters. I think that students would really connect with the issues that Michael is facing, and how he is trying to deal with them.

A superb, lyrical prose poem of a book, SKELLIG is a stunning young adult debut for David Almond, who effortlesslessly weaves a magical, moving spell from page one.

SKELLIG tells the story of ten-year-old Michael, a troubled boy whose family has moved to a new house in the wake of his newborn sister's grave illness. When he discovers a strange creature named Skellig huddled in the delapidated garage, Michael and his precocious friend, Mina, find their perceptions altered in extraordinary ways. Is Skellig an angel? A bird? A man?

This marvelous work is all about the things that are really important: love, family, imagination, and the idea that, perhaps, none of the events that shape our lives are by chance. ( )

Ross McGee
EDCI 5120
Almond, D. (1998). Skellig. New York: Delacorte Press

Grade Levels: 6-9
Category: Fantasy
Read Alouds: 1-9 (Michael introduces his life, hints at Skellig’s presence), 82-87 (Mina and Michael move Skellig to another house), 171-182 (the baby is born; Michael’s mom realizes Skellig visited her in the hospital).

Summary: Michael moves to a new neighborhood and discovers an angelic creature named Skellig living in his garage. With the help of his new friend Mina, Michael nurtures the creature back to health and moves him out of the garage to a different house. Michael’s baby sister is very sick and his parents spend most of their time at the hospital. In the end the baby (Joy) gets better with the help of a surprise visit from Skellig, who then disappears, thankful of his treatment by Michael and Mina.

Themes: One theme in this book is that intellectualism can be fun. Mina is very intelligent and helps Michael progress in his understanding of things through her knowledge of history, anatomy and poetry. She thoroughly enjoys her constant search for knowledge and a higher level of understanding than what she thinks Michael can get at school. The things she does such as watching over the baby birds and singing poetry come off as quite entertaining. The author seems to be making a statement about the spectrum between schoolwork and fun activities, suggesting that both can be accomplished in one. A second theme that comes out of Skellig is that love is powerful. Skellig is found by Michael in a state very near to death and along with Chinese leftovers and the occasional beer; Michael simply gives him love and attention, despite Skellig’s initial rudeness. By the end of the book he has grown strong to the point that even Michael and Mina are surprised and ask: “how are you doing this?” This suggests that love and affection, especially in places where it is not warranted, has special powers.

Discussion Questions:
Was Skellig actually real? Give evidence for or against this.
How did Mina’s education stack up to what normal kids get at school? What are the drawbacks?
How do the gross scenes of Skellig frame the novel? Is it more for boys or for girls?

Reader Response: Skellig was an excellent book, the first of my choices directly from the award winner list. It was an interesting change of pace from what I have been reading in that it didn’t deal with school, social problems, money, drinking, drugs, or sexuality. It was a story about love and the power it has to change even the bleakest of situations. In the end, I had a better feel after reading Skellig because of the ending, despite it all being somewhat unbelievable. While it would be an easy book to teach, although it also doesn’t demand much self reflection or create a greater understanding of the world around us, which is one of the things I appreciate so much about the edgier side of many young adult novels. Overall, it was a great read, but doesn’t demand social change and therefore I don’t know that I would be excited to teach it in a secondary classroom. ( )

Almond, David (1998). Skellig. New York: Dell Yearling

Grade Levels: 7-9

Category: Fantasy

Summary: A boy named Michael moves into a new house with his mom, dad, and little sister. They begin fixing up the new home when his sister becomes ill, he worries about her, he finds someone in the run down garage, and he meets the girl next door named Mina. His sister is admitted into the hospital and he stays home to help his dad fix up the house, he learns a lot about nature from Mina while he is out of school. Mina and Michael move a mysterious man out of the garage. Michael’s sister has heart surgery, Mina and Michael figure out the man was an angel, and Michael’s sister comes home.

Themes: A theme of this book is family patterns that may challenge parents’ authority, can be highly critical of siblings, and how they may look ahead for a time for complete independence. Michael says, “I won’t go to school! Why should I? Not today!” “You’ll do as you’re bloody told! You’ll do what’s best for you mum and the baby!” (142) Here Michael is challenging his dad’s authority by saying he was going to stay home and not go to school, while his sister is was having surgery. Another theme is the physical development varies widely and understanding of sex roles is developing.
Another theme is home schooling and how home schooling is just as good as public school. Mina says, “My mother educates me,” she said. “We believe that schools inhibit the natural curiosity, creativity, and intelligence of children. The mind needs to be opened out into the world, not shuttered down inside a gloomy classroom” (49). A child might think because Mina knows a lot about nature and poetry, that she is smarter than Michael. A child might also believe that home schooling makes a person smarter than if they went to school.

Discussion Questions: Who was Skellig, is he a real person, a bird, or a ghost?
Why did Michael’s sister have to have surgery?
Why was Mina home schooled and what did she learn while being home schooled?

Reader Response: I liked this book because it was a fantasy book and I like fantasies. The suspense of this book was great because you didn’t know who Skellig really was for quite some time. I could relate to the poetry Mina was being taught because I have a love to learn about and write poetry. The way Michael feels about his sister reminds me of the way my oldest son and how he feels about his younger brother. My son always worries about him and is always concerned about him. Throughout the book Michael thinks about his baby sister and hopes she will get well soon. My son would also be like Michael and not want to go toe school if his brother was sick.