Ingo (review)

Eleven-year-old Sapphire and her older brother are determined to prove that, despite the certainty of everyone else, their father did not desert them or die at sea. The siblings believe that their father may have been lured into the ocean, pursuing the siren calls of the Mer people. Although her brother is the first to make contact with a resident of Ingo, the underwater world, Sapphire soon finds herself increasingly drawn towards the ocean, called by voices that no one else can hear. Sapphire, dissatisfied with her above-water life, spends as much time as possible in Ingo; eventually her divided alliance between the two worlds leads to a grave error in judgment, which could mean death for a family friend unless Sapphire is able to mediate between humans and the Mer. Dunmore's rich descriptions of skimming along underwater currents and exploring the mysterious world of Ingo are captivating and elegant. Less successful is an elaborate attempt to connect Sapphire's father's disappearance with a larger town legend that is awkwardly constructed; this subplot distracts from Sapphire's own coming of age and struggle for balance in her home and underwater lives. In addition, the abrupt ending of this British import (the first novel in a projected trilogy) leads to cursory, unrealistic resolutions to some plot developments and frustratingly open-ended possibilities for others. However, fantasy fans who have ever stared into open waters, imagining entire worlds under the surface, will find Ingo to be a compelling mix of danger and adventure, and they will likely forgive the sudden ending, ready to dive into the sequel.