Michael is a normal 10-year-old boy. He has two friends, he has loving parents, and he likes to play. All of this changes when his parents’ baby is born frail and premature. She is on the edge of life and death and no one (not even Dr. Death) knows which one she will choose. Suddenly Michael is in a new home with a new baby, and his parents are tired and frustrated most of the time. The house is old and creepy, but Michael never expects to find a person in the dusty garage—at least Michael thinks it’s a person. Part human, part bird, and part something else, Skellig is a mystery. Mina, the fascinating homeschooled girl next door, befriends Michael and together they try to help Skellig.

Mina is a delightful character who spouts snippets of poetry by William Blake and regularly scoffs at traditional schooling. Mina is inspired by the world around her and she has a keen interest in animals, specifically birds. Mina and Michael's relationship is wonderful, and it is interesting to see how Michael's world view changes because of Mina.

It would be interesting to be able to see more of Skellig’s character and perhaps an adventure between the three characters. At 192 pages, this book is a fairly quick read, and it was so good that I wanted much more!

In conclusion, this was a fantastic book. Almond’s writing style is effortlessly beautiful. The simple dialogue manages to be breathtaking, and the connection Michael has with the sick child is heartbreaking. What’s more, character development is gorgeous and deliciously satisfying. The book is perfectly paced and there is a nice balance of elements. My only criticism is that there should be more. Luckily David Almond has written another novel about Mina’s life, titled My Name Is Mina.