Booklist, 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.

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.

[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.