The Deep

By Helen Dunmore

Book Overview

Sapphire lives in two worlds. On land she walks the rocky shores of the Cornwall coast--but under the sea she can swim like a seal by the side of her Mer friend Faro. Now both of Sapphy's worlds are threatened. In the profound depths of the ocean, where the Mer cannot go, a monster called the Kraken is stirring. He has the power to sweep Ingo away and shake the land from its foundation. Because of her mixed blood, Sapphire can enter the Deep. With a great whale as her guide, she will journey to a place so far from the sun, no light can find it--and confront an evil that's even darker.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060818581
• ISBN13: 9780060818586
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

New troubles loom for Saffy, her brother, Connor, and their friend, Faro. Not just because the Kraken - an ancient monster of the deep - has threatened to destroy Ingo unless the Mer give over their young. A new danger is rising, with aspiring leader Ervys gaining strength by encouraging prejudice against those who aren't full-blooded Mer. Faro's mentor, Saldowr, believes the people of Ingo have another option in Saffy, who entered the deep and managed to survive - an impossible feat for all but a handful of the ocean's inhabitants. He presents Saffy with the monumental task of returning to fight and defeat the Kraken. Despite the brewing tensions between Ingo and Air, Saffy and Connor agree to help, on the condition that they're allowed to see their father (who traded life as a human to become Mer) upon their return. Armed only with Granny Karne's rowan seeds and Saldowr's magical mirror, Saffy, Connor, and Faro embark on a perilous journey inside the mouth of a whale. While it's easy enough to dive right into THE DEEP without reading the first two books in Helen Dunmore's INGO series, I highly recommend all of them. I was so eager to follow the events of Saffy's life and discover the source of her family's connection to the sea, I gobbled up these books in a matter of days. THE DEEP is a page-flipping installment which takes the three main characters to the edge of an unknown world, forcing them to confront their deepest fears against a treacherous enemy. Reviewed by: Cat

Great read!

got this for my daughter (age 10). The Deep kept her as happy as the rest of the series - great read for girls (8- and up), and real life problems sprinkled into the story keep it real and are handles well by the auther.

Dunmore is Definitely an Author to Watch

Two years have passed since Sapphire first entered the amazing underwater world of Ingo. Each time she visits, she grows more and more enchanted with the sea's unending supply of colorful creatures, exciting adventures, and her friend, Faro, one of the Mer folk. However, even though she loves embracing her own Mer half, she always returns to the land, to her mom and brother, Conor. But now she has found word on her missing father. Although he was believed by most to be dead, Sapphire and Conor always knew they would find him again, and now they have. One of the Mer had lured him back to the sea, and now they have a baby half-brother. Sapphire thinks he regrets his decision to return to the sea, but he feels he doesn't have a choice in leaving. And then an opportunity to negotiate presents itself. The Kraken, an evil monster residing in the Deep, has awoken and now demands a sacrifice. He usually sleeps for hundreds of years at a time, leaving the Mer alone. But when he does wake up, he has the power to destroy Ingo; the Kraken is the one responsible for breaking the Tide Knot. The only way the Mer have to put him back to sleep is to offer him a boy and a girl as a sacrifice. There is one other possibility, but the Mer need help. A long time ago, a visitor to Ingo, a human visitor like Sapphire, traveled down to the Deep and somehow put the Kraken back to sleep. The Mer can't survive the Deep. Sapphire can and has. The Mer ask Sapphire to endanger herself once again and revisit the Deep to confront the Kraken. After much thought and discussion with Conor, they decide to accept the dangerous challenge. And in return, they want their father to be given the choice to leave Ingo if he wants. Helen Dunmore has once again created an opportunity for eager readers to venture into the wondrous world of Ingo. This third book in the series (following INGO and THE TIDE KNOT) offers even more adventure and excitement, thanks to Dunmore's vivid imagination. She weaves her words into a believable and lifelike dream, warmly inviting readers into the story, into Ingo, and allowing them to experience the journey right along with Sapphire. Near the beginning, when Sapphire has to swim and crawl through the tiny underwater cave tunnel, her fears and claustrophobia pour into readers' blood, sending shudders up and down their spine. Dunmore is definitely an author to watch, especially since the ending of THE DEEP hints at another sequel to look forward to, involving an extensive journey for Sapphire, Conor, Faro and Elvira to the other side of the world. --- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman