Worrying enough, but in his heart Michael senses that all is not as it seems. When Michael first ventures into the derelict garage, he finds what he believes to be a tramp – immobile and close to death. The display will not only provide an opportunity to introduce some of the vocabulary used in the text (wilderness, derelict, abandoned), but can also grow as we learn more about the creature inhabiting it. This is a great opportunity to hint at some of the ideas the story will explore – amongst the objects try to include an empty packet of aspirin, something owl related and, ideally, an angel or some wings.Īdd to the authenticity with some fake cobwebs and perhaps a few (plastic) spiders. Why not start the book by creating an interactive display? Most classrooms won’t accommodate a full-size shed, but a garden storage unit would provide a suitable focal point.įill the unit with a haphazard collection of old packing boxes, plant pots, broken furniture, empty bottles and other junk. In the garden (or wilderness as it is better known), Michael discovers an abandoned garage, packed to the ceiling with various abandoned detritus. Michael’s new home was previously occupied by an elderly pensioner and the family bought it following his death. Skellig is also a great choice for those looking to explore the wider curriculum, offering links to science and the arts. This careful balance between normality and the unknown is maintained throughout.ĭealing with themes of friendship, healing and a belief in the impossible, the book presents an excellent opportunity to stretch upper KS2 pupils in their responses. However, just in case we start to relax, we learn that ‘Doctor Death’ – so called because of his grey face and black spotted hands – has been called to the house.
Leading with the ominous line ‘I found him in the garage on a Sunday afternoon’, Almond then retreats into the mundane details of Michael moving to a new home along with his parents and baby sister. In David Almond’s award-winning book Skellig, we, along with the main character Michael, slowly uncover an extraordinary secret that will change his life forever.įrom the moment we enter the story, the author illustrates perfectly his skill in keeping his audience on tenterhooks.
But what if the line between reality and fantasy was far closer? What if it was in your own back garden? What would you believe?
Often children’s fiction provides opportunities for us to be transported to amazing alternative worlds inhabited by magical characters with unlimited powers.
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