Skellig

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Skellig (ISBN 0440416027) is a children's book by David Almond, for which Almond was given the Carnegie Medal in 1998 and also the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year Award.

In the book, a young boy named Michael (12) finds a mysterious man-like creature living in the garage of his new house. In the midst of a turbulent life (moving, having a sick baby sister, losing old friends) Michael becomes increasingly obsessed and upset by the fate of this creature. Appropriately, the move is one that takes him from Random Road to Falconer Road. In other words, he has moved from the chaos of youthful bliss and ignorance into a new world of adulthood, which brings order and structure to his life.

With the help of a new friend, Mina, who is home schooled, they move the creature to a place of safety and discover that he has wings.

The book is deliberately ambiguous about the nature of the creature. Although the obvious implication is that he is some kind of angel, his general demeanour and attitude is in direct contrast to traditional ideas about angels, leading the reader to consider ideas around religious imagery and the role of mystery in life. Skellig refers to both children as angels as well.

The names Skellig and Michael are possibly derived from the Skellig Michael Island in County Kerry, Ireland. St Michael is also the name of an archangel. Mina is most likely a diminutive of Willemina, as Mina's parents are devotees of William Blake.

The book has received considerable attention from the teaching profession because of the introduction of these deep themes and the fact that Mina introduces Michael to the works of William Blake. Many of his works are referenced in the novel, allowing young readers to broaden their horizons considerably.