Skellig

I have read Skellig to classes of both 5th and 6th graders with great results. David Almond writes about that "twilight" world where things aren't quite real, but they're not all fantasy, either. It's that world you see through squinted eyes. It's a world full of real problems and tangled emotions given one "what if" twist. I really like that about him. His stories are full of symbolism and metaphor to explore, discuss, and wonder about. Once kids start looking for the symbols, they run with it and find them like Easter eggs. Almond's is a very adult way of writing that is unique in the world of children's books. His use of language is masterful. The book's achingly beautiful scenes are balanced by a very gritty reality that has numbed the soul of the characters. This is a common thread in all of his books: Children, or teens, are struggling with a world that is crushing them in some way. Then, through literary twists, that struggle becomes mythic and transcends. I have an advanced 4th grader reading it now and wanting more. So do I. As an educator, storyteller, and poet--I love this book!

I'm 10 years old and I have read the book Skellig.I think that the people that rate these books should look at them differently.they might have think that Skellig should rank 4 1/2...but I don't.I think Skellig is a good book because it tells how us kids feel towards other people that have only some or no friends at all.It also shows that you should stand up for your friends and you should never give up on your hopes or your dreams to help other people and to take care of others other then your youself.So I hope that you listen to me because I think Skellig is great.

As a reading specialist,I enjoy taking the time to read children's books as they are sometimes better than adult novels! Skellig was a remarkable,enchanting,spiritual journey with a young boy,Michael,going through a family trauma as well as trying to adjust to a new home. When he and his new neighbor,Mina,discover Skellig, the real page-turning begins. The mystery of Skellig's identity plays along with the increasing severity of Michael's baby sister's illness. It was difficult for me to put the book down because the author keeps you guessing what will happen next. Readers will become deeply involved with all the "happenings" towards the end.This is a novel I would recommend to kids in grades 6 and up.It would also be a great read- aloud for families as well. I hope David Almond writes another novel soon!

I loved this book for how it expanded my imagination, back to a dimension it had when I was a child. I shared it with two of my 10 year old students, and they were awed by it, asked for more like it. Loved it. It gives richness and helps define an interior world. If your child is a dreamer, introspective or has big questions about life, they are very likely to be moved by this book.