Reviews - Skellig | The StoryGraph

679 reviews for:

Skellig

David Almond

3.71 AVERAGE

pacmunchkin's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

e2187's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

cassie7e's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful mysterious relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Yes

Loved this book as a teen. Rereading as an adult I notice how it's full of thematically coherent metaphor, foreshadowing, imagery, and "casual" descriptions. It's very rich with both this and scientific, literary, and mythological references for a book aimed at young readers. I found this refreshing. It doesn't assume readers are dumb, and also doesn't drop in the references with no explanation (which can leave readers feeling disconnected and uneducated).

I'm sure I was enamored with Mina as a teen too, as I relate to her love for arts and scientific knowledge.

I am a bit uncomfortable reading the children so often touching Skellig without consent, especially when he clearly doesn't want to be. As if he is an animal and a spectacle. Also there's a little bit of fatphobia/body shaming.

As for the audio edition: there was a hint of mouth crackle and the music was a little overdramatic and unnecessary. Some of the dialogue and prose felt stilted when voiced aloud. But overall it was fine.

Content Warnings

mollywetta's review against another edition

5.0

I absolutely loved this! It seemed more middle grade than YA to me, though (and we do have it in the children's room at my library rather than the teen stacks). The writing was effortlessly beautiful, and the magic was subtle and wonderful.