Common Sense Media Review
This gorgeously weird novel captivates readers.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 17 parent reviews
Parents say that this book elicits strong opinions, with some praising its imaginative storytelling and emotional depth while others criticize it for being disturbing and inappropriate for children. The mixed reviews highlight its potential to scare or inspire, depending on the perspective of the reader, while its themes of kindness, resilience, and friendship resonate with many young audiences.
- emotional depth
- mixed reviews
- inappropriate content
- kindness theme
- imaginative storytelling
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 48 kid reviews
Kids say this book elicits strong reactions, with a divide in opinions ranging from those who find it deeply moving and magical to others who deem it boring and cringy. Reviewers noted that while some aspects, like the relationship between the characters and the book's emotional depth, are commendable, they also highlighted issues such as inappropriate language, disjointed plot points, and a lack of clarity in the narrative.
- bad language
- boring sections
- emotional story
- strong character connections
- divisive opinions
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Michael's family has just moved to an old fixer-upper. But his baby sister is in the hospital with a heart problem, and Michael feels devastated and helpless.
When he sneaks into the crumbling garage, Michael finds a stranger named Skellig living (or apparently dying) there, a man immobilized by arthritis, subsisting on insects and spiders, and surrounded by owl pellets. While helping him, Michael discovers that the man is oddly light and has strange growths on his back that may be wings. \
\ As Skellig begins to inhabit Michael's dreams, he and his new friend, Mina, help Skellig into an abandoned house. There Skellig seems to have an odd relationship with the owls, who bring him food. And as Michael's mother keeps vigil by the baby's hospital bed, Michael begins to feel his sister's heart beating within his own, and Skellig appears in his mother's dreams as well.
Is It Any Good?
David Almond's gorgeously weird first novel holds readers entranced in a spell woven of moonlight, owls, and poetry. The author uses language to weave an intricate spell, and there are unforgettable scenes that are burned into memory in an instant: the moment Michael first discovers Skellig, covered with spider webs and dead bluebottles; a room lit only by shafts of moonlight, in which the children and Skellig join hands and dance in a circle that floats into the air; Michael's mother, half-dreaming, seeing Skellig lifting her ailing baby out of her hospital bed, and watching as wings seem to sprout from the infant's back.
Another unusual and compelling feature is that it is never really clear just what Skellig is -- human, bird, angel, or all three. But in this strange and soaringly lyrical story, Michael and Mina are comfortable with ambiguity ("Sometimes we just have to accept there are things we can't know," Mina says), and the reader of this haunting story will have to accept this as well.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the mysterious Skellig and whether he's part animal, part human or something altogether different. Do you think Skellig is an angel? Do you believe in angels? Why or why not? If you had to draw a picture of Skellig, what would he look like? Parents and kids might also enjoy researching the works of English poet William Blake, whom Mina refers to on several occasions.
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Family Life
- Book type : Fiction
- Publication date : January 1, 1998
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 182
- Last updated : April 15, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate