Book Review

The story begins with Sapphy’s father’s disappearance, leaving his family devastated. This terrible incident affects Sapphy deeply as she has a very close relationship with her father. Yet, she and her brother, Conor, both share the belief that their father is not dead, but is somewhere waiting for them to find him.

A year later, Sapphy and Conor have moved on with their lives though they remember their promise to keep looking for their father. Their mom has taken a job with long hours and has a new man, Roger, in her life. When Conor starts to leave home for long periods of time without telling anyone, Sapphy begins to worry and attempts to find out what he is doing. She soon finds the mystical underwater world of Ingo and its many mysteries. But, Ingo changes Sapphy in an irreversible way. When Roger, who is a diver, gets into danger in Ingo, it is up to Sapphy and Conor to help him get out of it.

Sapphy is the narrator of the novel. She has long, dark hair and appears to be about nine or ten years of age. Sapphy is hot-tempered, unpredictable, and impulsive, ““We flare up like the Midsummer Bonfire, lose our tempers and say things we should never say. Sometimes we don’t know what we’re going to do until we’ve done it. ” (Pg. 6) Sapphy does, however, have a considerate, brave, and caring side. She always has a love for the sea, and her feeling grows stronger as she learns about Ingo and realizes that she is in fact half Mer (those who live in Ingo). Sapphy’s fascination with Ingo and her independence make her unlike the normal “Air” (earth) girl.

Conor is Sapphy’s older brother by two years. Like her, he has dark hair. His temperament is the opposite of Sapphy, being sensible and level-headed. Conor is also blunt, and always tells the truth no matter how much it will hurt anyone. Conor plays the role of the big brother who always tries to protect Sapphy. Conor is essential to the story as he is the first to be introduced to Ingo and, therefore, leads Sapphy to discover Ingo. Like Sapphy, Conor’s physical appearance is normal, but he has “Mer” capabilities.

Faro is from Mer. He is about Conor’s age. He quickly becomes a good friend of Sapphy. Faro has a teasing nature and detests the Air. He is an important character as he helps and guides Sapphy in Ingo. Faro, as with other Mer characters such as Elvira, is not realistic physically or in behavior as he has a tail, lives underwater, and gets very angry at actions such as those of the divers that seem natural to “Air” people.

Characters such as Roger and Sapphy and Conor’s mom are normal and they behave like “real” people. Sapphy’s mom is a stereotype of the typical busy, single mom.

I enjoy the main characters because of their unique personalities. But, in particular, I admire Sapphy and Conor because they always kept faith that their father is still alive and they are determined to find him.
The main theme of this novel is Sapphy’s struggle between the two worlds – “Air” and Ingo. Sapphy is confused about living two lives which are both changing rapidly. As these two opposite worlds intertwine, Sapphy struggles to keep her life in balance. Family is another major theme. Sapphy’s family is almost torn apart by events, but the strong bond they have with each other lead them to support and encourage one another as they go through their difficulties. In the end, despite their adversities, they stick together as a unit. Growing up is an important theme in the novel because as Sapphy matures and overcomes obstacles, her character develops and becomes wiser. Sapphy becomes increasingly mature and wiser as she overcomes obstacles. Throughout the story, the author stresses the theme of the environment. Through the character of Faro, Dunmore makes the point that the environment is threatened by the reckless actions of human beings living in the world of “Air”.

I enjoy Ingo because the story captivates me. The detail that Dunmore writes to describe Ingo allows me to visualize Ingo vividly. Sapphy has taught me to persevere and be strong when facing difficult times. I can identify with Sapphy’s position in which she wants to go back to the past when everything was simple. I have had similar experiences, but to a lesser degree, as I have yearned to go back to the past to fix a mistake or mishap. From this novel, I have learned how important family is and how it is essential to have a close relationship with my family. I have also found out that people are not always what they seem. In the novel, Sapphy appears to be just a little shy girl but, inside, she is an independent, confident girl who saves Roger and the other divers’ lives.

I give this book a four and a half star. It is enchanting and magical, while at the same time, there is an underlying message of family values and environment. I do, however, find certain parts of the story a little confusing and could have been explained better. Still, it is overall a great read and, at the end, you will want to read the rest of the series. I would recommend Ingo to ten to twelve-year olds as some parts may prove to be a little more difficult for children younger than ten to understand.

Discussion #4: Chapter Ten to Thirteen - Vocabulary Enricher

This week, my literature circle group finished reading chapters ten to thirteen of Ingo. I was assigned the role of the vocabulary enricher.

Nettles- Any of numerous plants of the genus Urtica, having toothed leaves, unisexual apetalous flowers, and stinging hairs that cause skin irritation on contact: “I’ll push you into the ditch that’s full of nettles, behind the hall.” (Pg. 117)

Tarnished- To dull the luster of; discolor, especially by exposure to air or dirt: “The mirror is spotted and tarnished and its light is green, like underwater.” (Pg. 119)

Hypocrite- a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, esp. a person whose actions belie stated beliefs: “You’re such a hypocrite.” (Pg. 121)

Inquisitiveness- given to inquiry, research, or asking questions; eager for knowledge; intellectually curious: “They’re not like some people’s questions about Dad, which drip with rumour and inquisitiveness.” (Pg. 138)

Evasively- tending or seeking to evade; characterized by evasion: ““I won’t know what’s there until I’ve searched around a little,” says Roger evasively.” (Pg. 164)

Journal Entry #3 - Chapter Six to Nine

Write a paragraph about the character:

Sapphy has long, straight, dark hair. She is two years younger than her brother, Conor. Although her exact age is not given, she gives the impression of being around nine to ten years old as she is described as “too big to be carried” but “she’s too young” to be left alone. Sapphy appears to care deeply about her whole family. This is revealed by the magnitude of her grief when her father disappears, and how she reacts when her brother seems to have gone missing. Sapphy is also considerate when she does not tell her mother that Conor has not come home, worrying that her mother will get into an accident. At the same time, even though Sapphy panics as she faces the prospect that Conor is possibly gone, she makes the decision to deal with the situation by herself. This event proves that Sapphy is brave as well. Sapphy is hot-tempered, impulsive, and unpredictable, “We flare up like the Midsummer Bonfire, lose our tempers and say things we should never say. Sometimes we don’t know what we’re going to do until we’ve done it. And I sometimes tell lies when I need to…” (Pg. 6). She tendency to react instantly to her feelings is shown when she has a feeling that the sea is calling her. She immediately goes down to the sea even against her mother’s will. Sapphy is instantly loved by her family and everyone in Ingo and is very friendly towards them. But, she can appear cold and distant towards those she does not want to meet and be part of her life such as Roger, the diver.

Why is she/he important in the novel?

Sapphy is essential to the novel as she is the main character and is half Mer and half Air. Because of this, it allows the author to describe and explore both worlds and to introduce a variety of characters in the story. With her complicated family background of Mer and Air blood, Sapphy becomes an even more important character as she, torn between both worlds, is in a position where she can tell the story from both points of view. In addition to this, she has a very unique personality of being able to empathize with both the Mer and Air worlds, thus giving the novel an interesting perspective.

Would you like to be the main character? Why or why not?

I have mixed feelings about being the main character, Sapphy. On the one hand, I would want to be the main character because I would experience many exciting adventures in Ingo and would live an extraordinary life. But, on the other hand, I would not want my father to disappear and create a strain on my relationship with my mother. Also, I do not envy Sapphy’s complicated life between the Air and Ingo which makes her distant from her friends.

Would you like the main character for a friend? Give your

reasons.

I would like Sapphy as a friend, but only if I know about Ingo as well. This is because we would be able to discuss about Ingo which is a very important part of her life. Knowing about Ingo would allow me to be closer to her and would enable me to understand her better. I think Sapphy would also make a good friend as she is a kind and caring person and, therefore, will make a life long friend.

Discussion #3: Chapter Six to Nine - Discussion Director

1. If you knew the good and bad consequences of going to Ingo, would you advise Sapphy and Conor to go there? Explain why.

I would advise Sapphy and Conor to go to Ingo but I would inform them of all the consequences of going to Ingo beforehand. I would forewarn them because, as a reader, I could see that Ingo played such an important part in their lives and, therefore, they must make the decision themselves after considering what going to Ingo would mean to their lives. As they have strong Mer blood in them, Sapphy and Conor would very likely find out about Ingo in the future anyway. Also, the chapters I have read led me to think that Sapphy and Conor would play a crucial role in the world of Ingo.

2. If you were a friend of Sapphy and Conor and you did not know anything about Ingo, what were two possible ways you think Mathew Trewhella (their dad) could have died?

If I were a friend to Sapphy and Conor and I did not know anything about Ingo, I think Mathew Trewhella could have died from being eaten by a shark or another type of dangerous fish that tore or bit a hole in his boat. Another possibility could be that upon his return from sailing and, on his way home, he tripped on the slippery, wet rocks, hit his head and died. His body was quickly swept away into the sea by the tide during the night.

3. How would you react if you saw Faro or Elvira? Explain why.

I would be frightened, but also intrigued. This was because to actually see a Mer would be shocking and hard to believe at first. Then, curiosity would set in, particularly when Faro or Elvira did not appear to be threatening or harmful to me. I would probably attempt to find out who they were and where they came from. Seeing someone from Ingo would be an experience that would change my life and open me to a whole new world.

4. Pretend you were from Ingo. How would you feel about divers invading your home?

I would feel angry and violated. I would want to know who the divers were, what they were doing in Ingo, and to deliver them a strong message that they were not welcome in my home. I would want to send them back to the Air. On the other hand, I would probably feel curious about why they would want to invade Ingo when they already have the Air and could live there easily without needing tanks of oxygen to survive.

5. What would you do if you were in Sapphy’s and Conor’s mom’s position? How would you deal with everything going on?

If I were in Sapphy’s and Conor’s mom’s position, I would be terribly worried about them and would be especially concerned about Sapphy who seemed to be acting strangely since Mathew’s disappearance. I would spend a great deal of time with Sapphy and Conor and would talk to them about their feelings and emotions. I would gently try to find out what was going on so that I could understand the situation and to help them deal with what was going on in their minds. Having already lost a husband, I would not want to lose my children as well. I would also make sure that somebody will be home to watch them while I was at work.