Published: 1998

Author: David Almond

Summary/General Thoughts: This book is a beautiful prose poem.

Ten-ish year old Michael starts skipping school because he is so upset that his baby sister and his mother have been at the hospital for weeks and weeks. He meets Mina, his homeschooled next door neighbor, and forms an unlikely friendship with her. He also finds, quite literally, an angel living in his family’s derelict garage. The angel is named Skellig.

Authorial Worldview: Strong family values here, for sure. Michael is distraught that his baby sister is in and out of the NICU. He and his parents are all trying to help each other and hold the family together.

The author achieves an unusual literary effect by repeatedly discussing both Darwinism and angels in the same paragraph. Perhaps all the Darwin talk is supposed to bring a sense of realism to a story about a winged man in the garage. To me at least, I walked away with the message that this world is very big – big enough to contain both science and miracles.

In the end, the doctors operate, and save the baby’s life. And in the end, Skellig comes to save the baby.

Educational Content: Neither secular homeschoolers nor religious homeschoolers should be afraid to approach this book. Whatever you believe about Science and Religion, this book would be an excellent springboard for a serious discussion with your kids. (What do we even homeschool for, other than to teach our kids about the big issues in life?)

Prose Style: The book is written simply, in a child’s voice. (Well, a lyrical poet recreates a childlike voice.)

But Mina (the homeschooled character) sometimes quotes William Blake at length, or defines words such as “ossification.”

Respect for Adults: No child in this book disobeys an adult. No child in this book even contradicts an adult. All the parent characters are very involved and very caring. However, Michael does call his father “Fatso” a couple of times. This is meant as a joke of sorts, and is received as acceptable within Michael’s family system.

Portrayal of Home Education: Extremely positive. This book is on an absolute soapbox about the evils of school, and the advantages of homeschooling. The schoolteacher characters are kind. Still, this book has only negative things to say about school as an institution.

“My mother educates me,” she said. “We believe that schools inhibit the natural curiosity, creativity, and intelligence of children.”

Content: There is no romance, and no violence. Mostly, the word “blinking” is used in lieu of swear words. But there is occasional mild swearing: “bloody hell,” “bull,” “It was the devil’s own work,” “Bring the whole damn town!” “Where the hell is Skellig?”