Skellig facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | David Almond |
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| Cover artist | Fletcher Sibthorp |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English and 30 more |
| Genre | Children's fantasy novel, magic realism, fiction |
| Publisher | Hodder Children's Books |
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Publication date
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11 August 1998 |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 176 pp (first edition) |
| ISBN | 0-340-71600-2 |
| OCLC | 41320835 |
| LC Class | PZ7.A448 Sk 1999 |
Skellig is a popular children's novel written by the British author David Almond. It was first published in 1998. This book won the Whitbread Book Award for Children's Book of the Year. It also received the Carnegie Medal, which is a big award for children's books by British authors.
In the United States, Skellig was a runner-up for the Michael L. Printz Award. This award celebrates great young adult fiction each year. Since it was first published, Skellig has been turned into a play, an opera, and even a movie. A prequel, or a story set before Skellig, was published in 2010. It is called My Name is Mina and was also written by David Almond.
Contents
Story of Skellig
Michael's New Home and Baby Sister
The story begins with 10-year-old Michael and his family moving into a new house. Michael's parents are worried because his baby sister was born too early. She has a serious heart condition and might not survive.
A Strange Discovery in the Garage
Michael explores the old, dusty garage. Among the boxes and junk, he finds a very strange, thin creature. At first, Michael thinks it's a homeless person. He decides to help the creature by bringing him food. The creature is grumpy and has stiff joints. He asks for aspirin, specific Chinese food, and brown ale. Michael remembers a story that human shoulder blades might be leftover angel wings.
Meeting Mina and a Secret Friend
Michael's school friends start to drift away because he misses school. He spends less time with them. Then, he meets Mina, a girl who lives across the road. They quickly become close friends. Mina is homeschooled and loves nature, birds, drawing, and the poems of William Blake. She often draws or sculpts at home and invites Michael to join her. Mina also cares for baby birds in her garden. She teaches Michael how to hear their tiny sounds.
Michael decides to introduce Mina to the strange creature. Michael's old friends, Coot and Leaky, become suspicious. They try to find out what Michael is hiding. Michael and Mina work hard to keep the creature a secret. They even move "Skellig" to a safer place.
Skellig's True Nature and a Miracle
Michael asks doctors and patients at the hospital about arthritis. His baby sister is being treated there. The creature, whom Michael moved from the garage, finally reveals himself. He has a pair of wings on his shoulders and tells Michael and Mina his name is "Skellig."
Michael's baby sister gets very sick and needs heart surgery. His mother stays at the hospital with the baby. That night, she "dreams" that Skellig comes into the room. He picks up the baby and holds her high in the air. This act seems to save her life. After this, Skellig says goodbye to Michael and Mina. He moves out of the garage. When they ask what he is, Skellig says he is "something." He is a mix of human, owl, and angel.
The family struggles to choose a name for the baby. They think about calling her Persephone. In the end, they decide to name her Joy.
Characters in Skellig
- Michael (The main character)
- Mina (Michael's friend)
- Leakey (Michael's friend)
- Coot (Michael's friend)
- Skellig (A mysterious creature)
- Joy (Michael's baby sister)
- Mr. Batley (Michael's teacher)
- Mr. Stone (The real estate agent)
- Dr. Death (Also known as Dr. Dan, the baby's doctor)
- Rasputin (Michael's science teacher)
- Grace (An old woman from the hospital)
- Whisper (Mina's cat)
- Dr. MacNabola (A friendly doctor Michael talks to)
Main Ideas and Meanings
Skellig keeps you guessing about who or what Skellig really is. The author, David Almond, has said that the names "Skellig" and "Michael" come from the Skellig Islands in Ireland. One of these islands is called Skellig Michael. Saint Michael is also the name of an archangel, which is a type of angel.
Almond has mentioned that a short story called "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" by Gabriel García Márquez inspired him. Both stories feature a strange, winged old man. However, in Skellig, Michael and Mina are kind and accepting. They keep Skellig a secret from most adults. This shows how children can be more open-minded than some adults.
The Prequel: My Name is Mina
In 2010, David Almond published a prequel to Skellig called My Name is Mina. A prequel tells a story that happened before the first book. This book was nominated for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and the Carnegie Medal. Both awards suggested Mina for readers aged nine and up.
My Name is Mina tells the story of nine-year-old Mina. She keeps a journal in her own unique way. The book shows how her mind grows and becomes amazing. This happens especially after she starts homeschooling with her widowed mother.
Skellig on Stage and Screen
The 2003 Play
Skellig was turned into a play in 2003. The director, Trevor Nunn, wanted to keep Skellig's true nature a mystery, just like in the book. The play was first performed at The Young Vic Theatre in London. It was later performed by other theater companies, including Playbox Theatre Company. In 2011, The Birmingham Stage Company performed the play in New York.
The 2008 Opera
Skellig also became a modern opera. An American composer named Tod Machover wrote the music. David Almond himself wrote the words for the opera. The opera was performed at The Sage Gateshead in England in late 2008. The Northern Sinfonia orchestra played the music.
The 2009 Film
A movie called Skellig was made in 2009. It was part of Sky 1's plan to create new high-definition dramas. Filming began in September 2008 in Wales. The cast included Oscar-nominee Tim Roth as Skellig. Bill Milner played Michael Cooper, and Skye Bennett played Mina. Kelly Macdonald and John Simm played Michael's parents. The movie first aired on Sky 1 on April 12, 2009.
Images for kids
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First edition cover of Skellig
