Silver Skin
Silver Skin by Joan Lennon, published by Birlinn in 2015, is a young adult fiction novel set in Skara Brae, Orkney, during the Neolithic period. The story unfolds as the sun begins to die and crops fail, leading the local inhabitants to fear an impending apocalypse. The arrival of a mysterious boy clad in a peculiar silver suit disrupts the community, raising questions about his identity and purpose. As the narrative progresses, it explores themes of belonging and sacrifice against a backdrop of historical and mythical elements.
Readers will find a compelling tale that intertwines historical fiction with science fiction and time travel. The protagonist, Cait, feels an unusual connection to the boy, Rab, while Voy, the Old Woman, sees him as a potential savior for their dying world. As tensions rise and a sacrificial pyre is prepared, Rab must confront his fate and the implications of his actions on the islanders. This edition spans 208 pages and is presented in English, inviting readers to delve into a richly imagined world where myth and reality collide.
Official synopsis Publisher
Skara Brae, Orkney, during the Neolithic period. The sun is dying, crops are failing and the local inhabitants fear that the end of the world is near. When a strange boy appears from nowhere, dressed in an odd silver suit – his ‘silver skin’ – the community is thrown into confusion. Who is he, where is he from, and why has he come? Is he a selkie or seal person, a mythical being believed to have magical powers?
For Cait, herself an outsider in the community, the boy, Rab, arouses a strange fascination as she finds herself strangely drawn towards him. For Voy, the Old Woman, Rab represents the only hope for the sun’s regeneration, but only if his silver skin is burnt in a huge sacrificial blaze. As the pyre is built, Rab must fight for his life if he is ever to be able to return to his own time. And if he succeeds, what will be the fate of the islanders he will leave behind?
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