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.

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......

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 first heard this story as an audio book listened to with my children and I, and my husband, absolutely hated it. The narrator's voice was completely inappropriate, depressing and monotone and dragged the story down to a depth of misery which led me to eventually throw it out. The book was chosen by one of my book club friends and my heart sank. However, I am so glad I didn't allow my previous encounter to put me off as it has been a thoroughly delightful read. I couldn't put it down. Although there is a serious issue, throughout, regarding the baby the book never loses it's positive optimism and faith in humanity. I highly recommend it.

Great book

This was my younger son's favourite book for a while. After a visit to the Skellig islands in Ireland this week, I read it again in a day. Such a joy. No condescending language for young readers. It moves along with beauty, intelligence and imagination. Probably for ten years+ up to 72 and beyond.

Recently read 'Skellig' because I decided to read the prescribed texts that my son would study this year. This book escaped me when I was younger but as a middle aged adult I couldn't put it down. What a beautifully written, moving book. The way that the story of Skellig runs alongside the story of the poorly baby was clever and had me desperate to read the next chapter to find out what happened next. I read this book in an afternoon in the garden, I haven't done that for a while! I have told my son that he will greatly enjoy this book. I look forward to reading it again with him. I would definitely recommend reading this book.

The first few chapters where michael discovers skellig are terrific and riveting. Then unfortunately the book drifts more and more into michaels emotions and the sickness of his baby sister. This soon becomes the main theme; which i found tedious and irritating, since the star of the show is skellig, and i wanted to get back to this curious man bird lying in the dust and cobwebs, eating spiders and bluebottles. This book seems to be a classic example of what an adult thinks is a great book for children. Hence all the prizes- given by adults. When in reality its far too dry and poetic for children. Kids at that age are just not interested in the "beauty of the blackbirds flight", and the constant emotional fretting over the sickly baby sister in hospital. "Holding the baby's hand in his... feeling the babies heartbeat in his.. "Please. These are adult themes. Far too dull for a children's book.

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.

Itical is very good and deserves 5stars. I only found about this book when we started reading it as a class book and its very good. Themes: Magical, Imaginatavite, very fast to read.

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!