Inside Grandad

by Peter Dickinson

An unusual and moving story about the magical bond between a boy and his grandfather.

Does it just happen that Gavin and Grandad see the seal while they are fishing in the harbor? Just happen that Grandad talks about the selkies, the seal people who can leave the water and take human form? Just happen that Grandad is finishing the beautiful miniature boat he’s making for Gavin’s tenth birthday, and Gavin decides to call her Selkie? And at that moment, Grandad has his stroke. Could the selkies have something to do with all this?

Day after day at the hospital, Gavin tries to get through to helpless and speechless Grandad, trying to reach him, explain what’s happened to him. Everyone else has given up. But Gavin will try anything. Even asking the selkies to help. To do that, he must give them something to show them how much it matters. What is the dearest thing he owns?


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens

128 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Peter Dickinson was an English author and poet widely respected for his children's fiction, detective novels, and imaginative speculative writing. Raised partly in southern Africa before continuing his education in England, he developed an early fascination with adventure stories and classic literature, influences that later shaped his narrative style. He attended Eton College and later studied at King's College, Cambridge, before beginning a long association with the magazine Punch, where he worked for many years as assistant editor, reviewer, and resident poet. Dickinson eventually left journalism to pursue writing full time, publishing works for both adult and younger audiences. His crime novels featuring detective James Pibble earned critical praise, while his fiction for children established him as one of Britain's most distinguished authors in the field. Over the course of his career he produced nearly fifty books that combined historical imagination, fantasy, and thoughtful reflections on human behavior. He achieved rare distinction by winning the Carnegie Medal twice, for Tulku and City of Gold, recognition that placed him among the most celebrated children's writers in Britain. Dickinson also received numerous other literary honors and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. In addition to fiction, he wrote poetry and essays, and his work continued to influence generations of readers and writers in the field of children's literature.

Reviews

[Gretchen Rubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of the work of Peter Dickinson but had somehow missed this novel. A simple, lovely story about a boy's love for his grandfather.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enchanting short work by one of the main stays of UK Children's fiction.

Gavin and his grandfather are putting together a beautiful model boat that will be for the boy's 11th birthday. Asked what he will call the boat, Gavin suggests "Selkie" - they were fishing and saw a seal, so Grandad had been talking about Selkies. And then, out of the blue, grandad collapses witha major stroke.

The rest of the book describes Gavin's journey to help his grandfather overcome the stroke and return to him, with just a little help from the Selkie.

This is a moving tale sensitively written. There is a hint of magic here - just enough to enchant. I was put in mind of Skellig by David Almond as I was reading, although one tale does not borrow from the other - they are both their own stories.

This book is worth reading. Peter Dickinson does not do fairy tale endings, but this book is a positive one - and ultimately it is more about Gavin than grandad. Something of a coming of age tale, and a recommended read.

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Coma
Stroke

[Juan Cabrera · Rating 1 out of 5]

A un abuelo le da un parraque y no sé qué de unas focas.
Mierdón.
Me arrepiento de habérmelo leído.

[Robin Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my search for stories about selkies, the seals who can take off their seal skins and become human for a time, I came across several young adult titles, including Peter Dickinson’s Inside Grandad, written at a time when Dickinson was surely of an age to be a grandad himself.

In this lovely book, Scottish 10-year-old Gavin learns about selkies when he and his grandad spot a seal in the harbor. Gavin spends after-school time in Grandad’s shop, helping to build a wonderfully detailed model trawler, destined for Gavin’s eleventh birthday. Gavin asks if he can name it Selkie. Grandad cautions that the boy should ask the selkies for permission. They can help you in trouble, but they’re finicky, Grandad says — and then collapses with a stroke.

The story builds on Gavin’s need to contact and heal his now comatose grandfather in hospital and his guilt: He wonders, Did the selkies, angry because Gavin wanted to name his model boat “Selkie,” cause Grandad’s stroke? So begins a tale of largely one-way interaction with the mythical creatures.

Targeted at young teens — although Gavin himself is only ten, going on 11 — I found it more attuned to older adults with its gabby grandmother, its smart and understanding mother, and its stroke/hospital centered plot. There isn't a grandparent alive whose heart wouldn't melt at Gavin’s devotion to his grandad. So, maybe not really a YA at all. Still, I loved it. A quiet, touching read, with Dickinson’s usual care with characterization and a plot that builds and builds until Gavin gets it — and things turn.

I found particularly powerful the characterization of what it feels like to be in a mind and body post-stroke.

Falling into the dream of this story is only a stretch if you’re unwilling to concede the existence of mythological beings, i.e., selkies, but hey, it’s fiction, and the selkie part is sufficiently well built that's easy to believe.

So how is it a young adult read? I've always been told that kids read “up” — that is, they and the publishers want the characters to be a couple of years older than the targeted reader. Gavin is 10 to 11, and few eight-year-olds would light up to this book. But grandparents of ten-year-olds? Oh, yes.

[Ms.soule · Rating 3 out of 5]

About a boy who witnesses his grandfather's stroke, then tries to communicate with his comatose body in the hospital. Not particularly gripping and the selkie inclusion felt more contrived than real. Still, the description of a stroke and recovery for both the patient and his family was quite detailed. I'd recommend this to any child/young adult between 10 & 16 with a loved one in the hospital for long-term care.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up and didn't put it down until I finished it. I loved Gavin, who is the main character, and found it touching the way he did everything he could think of to reconnect with his grandfather after his stroke. Add a little bit of magic, and this became the perfect cold and rainy spring day read.

[Sarah Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

The target audience for this book is young teen readers. It is a touching story of the bond between a boy and his grandfather. I am not sure that today's teens would find it an engaging book but nevertheless it is a moving story about faith and belief.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd story of a boy trying to communicate with his grandfather, who has had a stroke, with the help of the selkies.

[Linda Ahmad · Rating 2 out of 5]

bad book and boring

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring.