Are you looking for a book that feels like being wrapped up in a warm, comforting hug? Look no further than The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune! The characters are endearing, the themes are timely, and the overall message of the book is what makes this one a gem. I read this one during election week and it was the perfect form of escapism. Be prepared to fall in love with these characters and be in a severe book depression when it ends. You have been warned....
Synopsis:
Linus Baker lives a quiet, plain live working his government job at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He is a case worker assigned to inspect government-sanctioned orphanages housing magical youth and he takes his job seriously. Linus receives a highly classified assignment that requires him to travel to Marsyas Island to observe an orphanage that houses some of the more dangerous magical youth. What starts as a job assignment begins to blur the lines between professional and personal relationships. Linus comes to know the children in a way that past case workers never did and becomes a hero in the most unconventional ways.
Mel's Thoughts:
I adored this book and cannot say enough how much I loved it. This book came to me at the perfect time and provided the escapism I was needing. While The House in the Cerulean Sea is certainly a fantasy novel, so much of it is echoed in today's society. As an avid reader of literary fiction, it was impossible to read this book without picking thinking of the hidden meaning behind each word. Klune writes about magical children, but in a way that is translated in today's society with racism, prejudice, and oppression. If I wasn't reading a library copy, I could have highlighted the entire book, that is how good and quotable it is!
The House in the Cerulean Sea is a magical, heartwarming novel that teaches us that home is not simply the structure we live within, but the people with whom we surround ourselves. I cannot recommend this book enough. Even if you are skeptical with the fantasy genre, give this one a try. It takes a lot for a fantasy novel to win me over and The House in the Cerulean Sea left a mark on me. I guarantee you will want to adopt every one of these quirky, magical children, I know I did!
Rating:
5 stars
Favorite Quotes:
"Change often starts with the smallest of whispers. Like-minded people building it up to a roar."
"Hate is loud, but I think you'll learn it's because it's only a few people shouting, desperate to be heard. You might not ever be able to change their minds, but so long as you remember you're not alone, you will overcome."
"We should always make time for the things we like. If we don't, we might forget how to be happy."
"A home isn't always the house we live in. It's also the people we choose to surround ourselves with."
"Sometimes our prejudices color our thoughts when we least expect them to. If we can recognize that, and learn from it, we can become better people."
"Just because you don't experience prejudice in your everyday doesn't stop it from existing for the rest of us."
This is definitely on my tbr. I cant wait to get to it.