My Name Is Mina is a 2010 children's novel by David Almond. It is a prequel to Skellig and is about Mina, a homeschooled girl who lives across the road from the house that Michael's family moves into at the beginning of Skellig. The novel takes the form of a stream of consciousness journal. It is written in a way that shows us Mina's opinions.
![]() First edition | |
Author | David Almond |
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Language | English |
Genre | Children's fiction |
Published | 2010 (Hodder Children's Books) |
Publication place | England |
Media type | Print (hardback) |
Pages | 300 |
ISBN | 9780340997260 |
OCLC | 765619939 |
Reception
editBooklist, in a starred review of My Name Is Mina, wrote "Almond is rather brave to have written a prequel to Skellig (1998), a book that was the essence of originality. So many things could have gone wrong. But he is too shrewd—and fine—a writer to let that happen";[1] and Kirkus Reviews found it "A fascinating, if breathless ramble through the cosmos."[2]
The School Library Journal wrote "Almond portrays Mina as a girl with a great love of words and learning, and he plays joyfully with language. This might make for tricky going for some readers, but it is truly a wonderful book.";[1] and VOYA called it "a lyrical, whimsical novel".[1] A Guardian reviewer wrote that it is "a wonderful book in its own right" and "joyous."[3]
My Name Is Mina has also been reviewed by Publishers Weekly,[4] Library Media Connection magazine,[1] The Horn Book,[1] The Use of English magazine,[5] Bookmarks,[6] Reading Time,[7] School Librarian.[8] BookTrust,[9] The Deakin Review of Children's Literature,[10] The New York Times,[11] and the National Post.[12]
It was shortlisted for the 2012 Carnegie Medal[13] and the 2011 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "My Name Is Mina". catalog.wccls.org. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ "My Name Is Mina". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media LLC. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ Sedgwick, Marcus (4 September 2010). "My Name Is Mina by David Almond". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ "My Name Is Mina". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ "My Name Is Mina". The Use of English. 63 (3). The English Association: 263. January 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2016.[dead link]
- ^ "My Name Is Mina". Bookmarks (56). Jon Phillips: 46. January 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2016.[dead link]
- ^ "My Name is Mina". Reading Time. 55 (2). Children's Book Council of Australia: 30. May 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2016.[dead link]
- ^ Peter Hollindale (December 2010). "My Name is Mina". School Librarian. 58 (4). School Library Association: 228. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ "My Name is Mina: The prequel to Skellig". booktrust.org.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ "My Name is Mina by D. Almond". The Deakin Review of Children's Literature. 3 (1). University of Alberta. 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ Paul, Pamela (14 October 2011). "Bookshelf: Night Children's Books". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ Marchand, Philip (16 December 2011). "Open Book: My Name is Mina, by David Almond". National Post. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ Clements, Toby (27 March 2012). "Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls leads Carnegie and Kate Greenaway medal shortlists". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ Eccleshare, Julia (1 October 2011). "Guardian children's fiction prize: the shortlist". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 December 2016.