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★★★★★

Introduction to The House in the Cerulean Sea

The House in the Cerulean Sea was a book that I’d seen for a long time before finally reading it. At my library, it had quite the waitlist. When I finally received it, it took me a minute to get into it. When I did, however, I devoured it in one sitting. It’s rare that I give a book five stars, but this one deserved it. Buckle up for a feel good, heartwarming ride as you read this story.

Summary

Linus Baker is a case worker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. His life is solitary and revolves around his work. This overwhelmingly includes paperwork and mundane tasks. One day, Upper Management unexpectedly summons him and informs him that he will be spending the next month observing a classified orphanage on a mysterious island. There are six magical children here that don’t belong anywhere else—a shapeshifter, a female gnome, and the antichrist, amongst others. Their caretaker is the mysterious Arthur Parnassus, about whom Linus knows nothing.

Linus is terrified, and rightfully so, but he dutifully shows up to the orphanage to determine whether or not it should stay open. Nothing is as he expects. As time goes on, relationships are formed, and secrets are revealed, Linus finds that he has some big decisions to make that will affect not only him, but the fate of the children as well.

Context

TJ Klune has been a published and award-winning American author since 2011, and he has spanned many genres. He writes in the LGBTQIA genre, as he himself is part of the community. As he explains in this great video, however, while he writes these books primarily for the queer community, he wants anyone and everyone to enjoy them. Upon further research, it appears he was partly inspired for this book by the Sixties Scoop in Canada, which resulted in some controversy in online communities. Klune has stated that the main message he wants people to take away is that of kindness and acceptance, which I do think is present in the story.

Review: The House in the Cerulean Sea

Every now and then, a book comes along with a timeless tone and a story that appeals to all audiences. I would consider this book one of these.

Right off the bat, Linus seemed like one of those interesting characters who is not entirely interesting himself. My immediate comparison was Harry Potter. Throughout the novels, once you look past his unique circumstances, Harry is pretty much the least interesting/charismatic one out of his friends. Linus is kind of like Harry, minus the Voldemort situation. He doesn’t have a ton going on to make him unique, and that’s what makes him both accessible and an interesting character. From being stuck in a boring desk job to putting himself on a salad-only diet, Linus gives us some authenticity and relatability in a fantasy world.

That’s what I loved most about this book. The world that Klune built is close enough to ours where it is relatable and tangible, but it still maintains its own identity. Throughout the story, this only progresses, especially as Linus interacts with the children at the orphanage. The idea of chosen family, while common in literature, stills feel sweet in this story. I’m a strong believer that stories don’t have to be 100% original to be successful (after all, there’s a reason we always come back to beloved stories), and this book does a good job of balancing the success of common tropes with Klune’s fictional world. All of the characters were likeable, and he did a great job of creating entertaining relationships amongst the various characters. Throughout the story, it felt like he once again struck a great balance between known stereotypes and unique, memorable personalities.

One point of the story that I truly loved was the character growth. Throughout the story, Linus truly comes out of his shell. Often, in fantasy novels like this, I find that authors focus overly on the world that they create. Klune did a wonderful job of paying careful attention to Linus’s character development, and it felt very rewarding at the end. If I were to use this book in a classroom, it would be a great example of the hero’s journey, as Linus really does go through all of the stages.

The plot itself is also great. Once again, it isn’t the most unique of plots, but it doesn’t have to be. It works for the book, and it leaves readers with that warm feeling inside that we love to feel.

While there is romance, it is not central to the plot, nor is it overdone. I actually enjoyed the romance in this story, as it was very sweet and subtle. Some stories struggle as they try to balance the plot and subplot, but there was a clear hierarchy established and followed here. Klune does write LGBTQIA fiction, but I believe that it’s relatable for everyone. Throughout The House in the Cerulean Sea, the romance felt very organic and woven into the fabric of the story and the authenticity of the characters’ lives. If you’re looking for a story with true representation, this is an excellent pick.

Recommendations A La Carte

Conclusion

I would recommend The House in the Cerulean Sea to anyone. Picking it up felt like returning home to the books that I enjoyed throughout my childhood. I believe that no matter who you are, you’ll find something to love about this book, whether it’s the tone, the message, or one of the many memorable characters. It’s a fairly short read, so definitely pick it up next time you have a few hours to spare!

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