the crossing of ingo

Judge A Book By Its Cover

Book Reviews and Synopses

The Crossing of Ingo

Helen Dunmore

Dunmore, Helen. The Crossing of Ingo. HarperCollins Children’s books. England, UK. 2008.

The Crossing of Ingo, Helen Dunmore, is a fiction book about a boy named Mason who lives in the ocean and he finds himself in a place where he thought he could never end up. This book mostly recommended for ages 12 and up because the author has a really good voice and a great descriptions that this age range will enjoy.

Mason grew up in Jamesport, New York. Mason has been bullied all his life, but the one place where he felt happy and safe was the ocean. Mason is a merman, but only when he was under water. Out of the water, he is just a normal high school sophomore.

Mason doesn't know why he is bullied so much, he was just always “that kid,” but he had never let the bullying get to him. If the kids that bullied him knew he was a mermaid, he thought the bullying might get worse, so he didn’t tell anyone. When he went home to the ocean, he’d have dinner with his mermaid family like any other human being or mermaid. He’d enjoy the whole night, then in the morning his worst fear; high school and turning into a human. No other mermaid in the world could turn into a human, not even his parents, who were the ones that suggested that he take advantage of his powers.

One day, Mason was at school hurrying to his English class. He made it just in time, but right as he was about to sit down, his English teacher called him to the front. He said, “Mason, you left your notebook in class, but as I was looking at it, I found this.” It was a picture he’d drawn a few weeks before of a mermaid swimming in the ocean and below it he’d written, “mermaid disguised as human.” He then snatched the notebook out of his teacher’s hand and went back to his desk. Subsequently, a kid took it from him and said, “Not so fast.” He flipped through the notebook and found the picture; he laughed and laughed then passed it around to the whole class.

At lunch he was surrounded by people, a few were taunting him, but to his surprise, most of them were praising him! Although he was pleased that people actually liked him for his true form, he said, “Yes, I’m a mermaid, but you’ve all disrespected me and bullied me since kindergarten, so why in the world should I be your best friend now?” With that, he walked away, deciding he’d discuss this with his family. Until then, he’d still be the great mermaid-boy he had been his whole life.

The Crossing of Ingo is a great book for people who like fantasy. It has good word choices and great descriptions. I recommend this book for anyone that loved reading the Harry Potter series.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Contributed by M. Gebremariam

June 5, 2012