The Tide Knot facts for kids
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| Author | Helen Dunmore |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's Novel |
| Publisher | HarperCollins Children's Books |
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Publication date
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2 May 2006 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 336 pp |
| ISBN | 0-00-720489-2 |
| OCLC | 63395497 |
| Preceded by | Ingo |
| Followed by | The Deep |
The Tide Knot is an exciting children's novel written by English author Helen Dunmore. It was published in 2006. This book is the second part of the Ingo tetralogy series. The story continues the adventures from Ingo and leads into The Deep and The Crossing of Ingo. The Tide Knot won the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Silver Award. It was also considered for the famous Carnegie Medal.
Contents
Exploring the Story of The Tide Knot
This section tells you about the main events and characters in The Tide Knot.
Sapphire's New Life and Old Longings
The story begins with Sapphire, her brother Conor, and their mother. They have moved to a new place called St Pirans with Roger. They left their old house by the sea. This is the house where their dad disappeared two years ago. Conor has gotten used to their new life. But Sapphire finds it very hard. She feels sad and restless. Her only comfort is the amazing underwater world of Ingo.
Diving Deeper into Ingo
Sapphire starts visiting Ingo more often. She even goes without Conor. Conor has stopped going to Ingo. He prefers his life on land now. One evening, Sapphire takes her dog, Sadie, for a walk by the sea. The pull of Ingo is too strong for her to resist. She leaves Sadie safely on the path and dives into the water. Her friend Faro, a mer-person, is there. Sapphire only stays for a short time. When she returns to Sadie, her dog seems very scared and sick.
Seeking Help and a Mysterious Message
Sapphire's mother tells her not to worry about Sadie. But Sapphire is still concerned. She skips school and takes Sadie to see Granny Carne. Granny Carne is a wise old lady with special powers. From Granny Carne's house, Sapphire calls her mother. She says she will stay there until morning. That night, Sapphire hears her dad's voice. She follows it to a deep pond. Sapphire sees her dad, but he looks like a mer-person. He tells her that the "tide knot" is loose. He cannot stay long and leaves quickly. The next day, Sadie is better. But Sapphire is in trouble with her mother for skipping school.
A Family Secret and a Dangerous Journey
Soon after, Conor and Sapphire go back to Ingo. They want to learn more about their father. They swim into a strong, wild current. Faro saves Conor from the current. But Sapphire is pulled far into the deep ocean. She wakes up in complete darkness. A friendly whale helps her find her way back to Ingo. There, Sapphire and Conor see something amazing. They look into a mirror-like object. In it, they see a mer-woman holding a mer-baby. The woman smiles at someone in the corner of the mirror. It is their father, smiling lovingly at the woman and the baby.
The Loosening Tide Knot and a Great Flood
Sapphire and Conor feel sad and replaced. They are about to leave Ingo. But then they learn about the tide knot. This is a special stone that controls the ocean's tides. It is becoming loose. Soon after they return home, the tide knot breaks even more. Almost the entire town floods. Houses are swallowed by the rising water. Sapphire's mother becomes very ill. Sapphire, her mother, and their friend Rainbow go up to the attic for safety.
Working Together to Save the Day
Sapphire bravely jumps out of the attic window into the sea. There, she meets Conor and Faro. Sapphire is pushed hard against a wall. Her leg starts to bleed. Conor calls for Elvira, a mer-healer. Elvira heals Sapphire's leg. Together, the four of them help Saldowr. Saldowr is the wisest of the mer-people. He is also the keeper of the tide knot. They work to put the broken pieces of the tide knot back together. Saldowr is weak, but they manage to fix it. Conor uses his special power to understand the stone. Slowly, the flood waters go down.
A Happy Ending for Sapphire
Conor and Sapphire return to the rescue center. They are happy to be reunited with their mother. The story ends happily with Sapphire and her dog, Sadie, together again.
