Some books are like talismans, compact in their power, possessed of an aura mysterious and meaningful, even if—especially if—the precise nature of its mystery and meaning eludes us. Such a work is David Almond’s Skellig, which won the Carnegie Medal as best children’s book by a British author when it was published in 1998. While it’s perfectly tuned for readers of ages eight to ten, the book’s haunting music is captivating for audiences well beyond that range in years.