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A review by minabix
Ingo by Helen Dunmore
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I read this series as a kid and I'm happy to discover that they're even better on a reread - such an evocative, unique take on mermaid mythology, and impressively well-written.
The tension between the safety of Air and the captivating world of the Mer is great, and I love the portrayal of the ocean as a genuinely dangerous, hypnotic force. The story itself feels hypnotic - from the bees and honey cakes and cute dogs on land to the beautiful glittery calmness and wild excitement of the sea, it's a world so wonderfully described that you truly want to live there yourself. True, we don't spend that much time with the Mer compared to the other books (I remember loving the fourth one where they swim to the Arctic), but the world of Air in this story was just as interesting as the underwater world. The exploration of how time flows differently in the two worlds was cool too and added an extra layer of tension every time they visited the Mer.
The family dynamics and characters are also really well written and totally believable, with lots of nice moments together and realistic motivations. I like that the author takes the time to set up everything, like the lingering mystery of their dad's disappearance. The history of the characters and their hometown feels very real. The side characters like Mer-boy Faro and wary old witch Granny Carne are a lot of fun too.
The only thing I didn't like so much was that the siblings argue quite a lot in the middle of the book, but that just makes their relationship seem more realistic. Sapphire is a strong protagonist and we're right there with her all through the story, grappling with real emotions and making important decisions with high stakes.
Whether you're twelve or twelve at heart, this is an excellent read.
The tension between the safety of Air and the captivating world of the Mer is great, and I love the portrayal of the ocean as a genuinely dangerous, hypnotic force. The story itself feels hypnotic - from the bees and honey cakes and cute dogs on land to the beautiful glittery calmness and wild excitement of the sea, it's a world so wonderfully described that you truly want to live there yourself. True, we don't spend that much time with the Mer compared to the other books (I remember loving the fourth one where they swim to the Arctic), but the world of Air in this story was just as interesting as the underwater world. The exploration of how time flows differently in the two worlds was cool too and added an extra layer of tension every time they visited the Mer.
The family dynamics and characters are also really well written and totally believable, with lots of nice moments together and realistic motivations. I like that the author takes the time to set up everything, like the lingering mystery of their dad's disappearance. The history of the characters and their hometown feels very real. The side characters like Mer-boy Faro and wary old witch Granny Carne are a lot of fun too.
The only thing I didn't like so much was that the siblings argue quite a lot in the middle of the book, but that just makes their relationship seem more realistic. Sapphire is a strong protagonist and we're right there with her all through the story, grappling with real emotions and making important decisions with high stakes.
Whether you're twelve or twelve at heart, this is an excellent read.