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A review by rarewren
Skellig by David Almond
4.0
Michael's family has moved to a strange house with a neglected garden and a decrepit garage. He tries to convince himself that the long bus ride to his old school gives him "time to think about what was going on," like his sick baby sister, his worried parents, the precocious homeschooled girl next door, and the mysterious creature named Skellig he finds living in that decrepit garage. When the baby's health takes a turn for the worse and Skellig's existence begins to look even more precarious, Michael must overcome his fears by relying on his own initiative and building trust in the people around him. A gentle adventure that is equal parts authentic and mystical, poetic and suspenseful, Michael's story lives at the intersection of truth and dreams, which, as his neighbor friend Mina says, "are always getting muddled."
SKELLIG is a beautifully crafted story, rich with poetic details and authentic dialogue. The plot unfolds gently in brief, well-paced chapters that gradually build suspense. The myriad reviews on readingmatters.co.uk (http://www.readingmatters.co.uk/book2.php?id=29) by youth aged 11-16 reveal how the book's interesting details (Chinese takeout, Mina's mannerisms, birds and William Blake) and relationships provide something appealing for just about everyone. However, many young readers were disappointed in the ending, often wanting to know more about the mysterious creature of the title. And there were conflicting assessments of the book's plot and pacing, with some wanting even more details and others demanding more action and adventure.
I had no idea what to expect from this book myself and was pleasantly surprised at the way it drew me in. I found it super easy to relate to Michael the narrator, and I adored the way Almond portrays Michael's relationships and interactions with his mates at school, and with his dad too. The magical threads of the story might not have been quite so compelling to me if they were not tied to the legacy of William Blake, an awesome surprise. Overall the reading experience reminded me of THE SECRET GARDEN (which I have not read in years, so the association could be askew) and SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES (if you swapped all things sinister with sad and sweet).
SKELLIG is a beautifully crafted story, rich with poetic details and authentic dialogue. The plot unfolds gently in brief, well-paced chapters that gradually build suspense. The myriad reviews on readingmatters.co.uk (http://www.readingmatters.co.uk/book2.php?id=29) by youth aged 11-16 reveal how the book's interesting details (Chinese takeout, Mina's mannerisms, birds and William Blake) and relationships provide something appealing for just about everyone. However, many young readers were disappointed in the ending, often wanting to know more about the mysterious creature of the title. And there were conflicting assessments of the book's plot and pacing, with some wanting even more details and others demanding more action and adventure.
I had no idea what to expect from this book myself and was pleasantly surprised at the way it drew me in. I found it super easy to relate to Michael the narrator, and I adored the way Almond portrays Michael's relationships and interactions with his mates at school, and with his dad too. The magical threads of the story might not have been quite so compelling to me if they were not tied to the legacy of William Blake, an awesome surprise. Overall the reading experience reminded me of THE SECRET GARDEN (which I have not read in years, so the association could be askew) and SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES (if you swapped all things sinister with sad and sweet).