Suitabook

The Deep

Helen Dunmore

Reading: As the third book in a series, it may be easier to follow after the earlier Ingo novels. If reading it on its own, pause to discuss unfamiliar relationships and how the two worlds connect.
Themes: Belonging and who can enter the Deep: Mer legend says people of dual human and Mer ancestry can overcome the Kraken; Faro discovers he is not pure Mer and can join the journey. The plot makes ancestry relevant to access and capability, but does not establish a broader judgement about that distinction.
Leadership and decision-making: Ervys calls himself a Mer leader although the Mer have no leader; he objects to the agreement allowing Sapphire and Conor to help. The disagreement is clear, but the plot account does not settle whether the story endorses or criticises Ervys's position.
Worth knowing: A threatening creature awakens with the power to destroy the Mer world, and the companions go into the Deep to confront it. The plot also includes a battle of minds.