The Tide Knot

by Helen Dunmore

Book Overview

In a seaside town of sandy beaches and ocean breezes, Sapphy has never felt so far from the sea. The crowded shore at St. Pirans is nothing like the cove at Sapphy's old home, where she first found her way into the underwater world of Ingo. But Ingo's pull is strong, and it always finds a way. Soon Sapphy and her brother, Conor, are swimming beneath the waves again, riding the currents and teasing their Mer friend Faro. As Sapphy goes deeper into...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060818557
• ISBN13: 9780060818555
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Harperteen
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

for the one who likes to read

i really enjoyed this book. fero and sapphy have great chemistry and it seems like they love eachother. this book has way more action and adventure than the first one,ingo, but is just as good.

Helen Dunmore brings back the amazing world of Ingo in this much-awaited sequel

Unable to face the memories of her husband's disappearance, Sapphire's mother moves the family away from their seaside cottage to the town of St. Pirans. Sapphy's brother, Conor, seems to be settling into his new life just fine, and her mom, with the attentions of new boyfriend Roger, begins to find happiness again. But Sapphy refuses to call St. Pirans home. She longs to be back in the cottage she was born in, where she lived happily with her complete family. And she longs to return to Ingo. Despite Sapphy and Conor's vow to find their father, they have yet to discover any clues. Everyone else thinks he drowned in the sea, but they know deep in their hearts that he is still alive and would return if he could. Something they did discover in their search was the pathway into the underwater world of Ingo. Ingo includes the sea and her creatures, and the population of Mer, the water-dwelling beings that appear human on top and dolphin-tailed on the bottom. The wise woman of the village told Sapphy and Conor that they are actually half Mer themselves, thus allowing them to enter Ingo. But since they moved away from the secluded cove, Sapphy hasn't been able to find a way to return. Then, after the tourists leave for the summer and the bustling town quiets down for winter, Sapphy hears Ingo calling for her again. She delves into Ingo, finding her friend, Faro, and joins him in exploration and riding the currents again. She feels the pull of Ingo so strongly that sometimes she has trouble returning to the air. Conor advises her to fight the urge to visit Ingo, to settle into their new life and move on, but Sapphy refuses to even try. She has always fit into Ingo easier than Conor has, and besides, she refuses to forget her vow to find their father. And then one night Sapphy does locate him. She hears him calling to her in the night and follows his voice to the river that flows out into the sea. Her father has traveled up the river to get as close as he dares, yet he cannot leave the water. He made the choice to join the Mer permanently. Sapphy detects that he is unhappy with his decision, yet he says it's too late. However, he had to come back to warn her that the tide knot, the source that controls the tides, is beginning to unravel. Sapphy and the entire town of St. Pirans are in danger of being swallowed up by a tidal surge! Helen Dunmore brings back the amazing world of Ingo in this much-awaited sequel. Along with the colorful characters befriended in the first installment of the series, fans will experience more in-depth explorations into the magical world of Ingo, rescue a beached dolphin, converse with a wise old whale and delve into the terrifying nightmare of a tsunami. Cleverly woven into this non-stop wonder of a story is the theme of making choices and living with the consequences. Dunmore has delivered another wondrous adventure. --- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT and THE BLACK POND

Another wondrous adventure

Unable to face the memories of her husband's disappearance, Sapphire's mother moves the family away from their seaside cottage to the town of St. Pirans. Sapphy's brother, Conor, seems to be settling into his new life just fine, and her mom, with the attentions of new boyfriend Roger, begins to find happiness again. But Sapphy refuses to call St. Pirans home. She longs to be back in the cottage she was born in, where she lived happily with her complete family. And she longs to return to Ingo. Despite Sapphy and Conor's vow to find their father, they have yet to discover any clues. Everyone else thinks he drowned in the sea, but they know deep in their hearts that he is still alive and would return if he could. Something they did discover in their search was the pathway into the underwater world of Ingo. Ingo includes the sea and her creatures, and the population of Mer, the water-dwelling beings that appear human on top and dolphin-tailed on the bottom. The wise woman of the village told Sapphy and Conor that they are actually half Mer themselves, thus allowing them to enter Ingo. But since they moved away from the secluded cove, Sapphy hasn't been able to find a way to return. Then, after the tourists leave for the summer and the bustling town quiets down for winter, Sapphy hears Ingo calling for her again. She delves into Ingo, finding her friend, Faro, and joins him in exploration and riding the currents again. She feels the pull of Ingo so strongly that sometimes she has trouble returning to the air. Conor advises her to fight the urge to visit Ingo, to settle into their new life and move on, but Sapphy refuses to even try. She has always fit into Ingo easier than Conor has, and besides, she refuses to forget her vow to find their father. And then one night Sapphy does locate him. She hears him calling to her in the night and follows his voice to the river that flows out into the sea. Her father has traveled up the river to get as close as he dares, yet he cannot leave the water. He made the choice to join the Mer permanently. Sapphy detects that he is unhappy with his decision, yet he says it's too late. However, he had to come back to warn her that the tide knot, the source that controls the tides, is beginning to unravel. Sapphy and the entire town of St. Pirans are in danger of being swallowed up by a tidal surge! Helen Dunmore brings back the amazing world of Ingo in this much-awaited sequel. Along with the colorful characters befriended in the first installment of the series, fans will experience more in-depth explorations into the magical world of Ingo, rescue a beached dolphin, converse with a wise old whale and delve into the terrifying nightmare of a tsunami. Cleverly woven into this non-stop wonder of a story is the theme of making choices and living with the consequences. Dunmore has delivered another wondrous adventure. --- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT and THE BLACK POND

Even better than the first

I was a bit annoyed at Ingo for ending so abruptly with a teaser that pretty much said 'find out what happens in the sequel next year'. I mean I felt like complaining to some authority about it. The Tide Knot makes up for it by being even better than Ingo. The story picks up in a cold and bleak November where Saphire and Conor have moved to the town next to Senara and left their cottage to renters. Conor is more interested in surfing but Saphire cannot let go of the pull of Ingo. Her mother still has no clue but potential stepdad Roger is becoming more and more suspicious. Saphire still believes her dad didn't really drown and is still looking for answers. Again she involves herself in the affairs of the Mer to solve the mystery. As before, The Tide Knot is written in that same dreamy, euphoric style that makes every trip into the ocean seem like and enigmatic heroin rush. Whenever Saphire is not in Ingo we cannot wait until she just dashes for the shore and whenever she is far out in some current we don't want her to head back to land. It's weird and yet pleasing how she exists in two different worlds and is somehow wise beyond her years (I like children's books that don't insult their intelligence) without seeming cocky. With the third novel in the series (The Deep) already out, this is looking like a series I am seriously enjoying that sort of popped out of nowhere. I recommend any teenager (or adult, such as myself) to pick up these books.