Michael finds a strange old man crouching in a dark corner of the garage after his family moves into a new old house. At first he thinks he’s a homeless man, but then he notices some strange growths protruding from the man’s back -- could they be wings? While his parents are busy caring for their infant daughter who is seriously ill, Michael befriends Skelling, as the man calls himself, as well as Mina, a free-spirited neighbor girl who finds Skellig as mysterious and fascinating as Michael does. Skellig grows stronger each day with Michael and Mina’s fond attention. His recovery mirrors that of Michael’s baby sister, suggesting that Skellig might be in some way the baby’s guardian angel, although David Almond leaves the story open to interpretation. (Ages 9-13)