SKELLIG tells the story of Michael, a boy whose family is suffering through his premature baby sister’s fight to live. When Michael goes out to explore in an old shed in back of his house, he is startled to find what appears to be an old man. Together with his new friend and next-door neighbor Mina, Michael helps the man through brown ale, cod liver pills, and Chinese food. Mina is the intellectual free spirit living next door, home-schooled in the way of Blake and of birds. Michael discovers what may be wings sprouting from the man’s shoulder blades and the mystery deepens. As the two nurse the man, Skellig, they discover that he does indeed have wings. At times he appears to be some offshoot of an owl, and at other times he could be an angel. Through all of this adventure, Michael’s baby sister’s life hangs in the balance.

Almond tells a fascinating tale and keeps readers wondering throughout. They wonder about the true identity of Skellig and about what his is doing on Earth. They hope and pray that the baby will pull through. The fact that Almond has chosen this one character as the one element to be fantastical lends the story credibility. He writes of musty corners, dead flies, and boarded up old houses in a way that gives an eerie quality, but still stays within the realm of possibility. The baby girl’s drama is so heart-wrenching, so lovingly portrayed through Michael, that tears may actually be shed.

As the story draws to a close, readers find themselves satisfied, and at the same time not sure of what just happened. Patricia A, Dollisch writes for School Library Journal, “The beauty here is that there is no answer and readers will be left to wonder and debate, and make up their own minds. A lovingly done, thought-provoking novel.” SKELLIG is an adventure that tugs at the heart strings and raises questions, even as its mystery goes unexplained.