The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
CW: Abuse, Discrimination, Manipulation, Internalized Fat-phobia, Abandonment, Hate Rally, Queer-phobia, Microaggressions, Anxiety, Body Shaming, Worker Exploitation
5/5
After reading Under the Whispering Door, also by TJ Klune, I knew I wasn't done with this author. I put myself on the Overdrive waiting list for The House in the Cerulean Sea just after finishing Under the Whispering Door. While I distracted myself with other wonderful books such as An Unkindness of Ghosts and A Dragonfly in Amber, I'm so happy that I finally got my chance to read this book! I described it to a friend as "some real chicken soup for the soul". Klune delivers on making serious topics wholesome. As the audience, you either want to smile at or hug the characters at any given moment, sometimes both.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is about an orphanage of sorts in a world where magical creatures and humans have been asked to coexist. As this is not something the humans have taken kindly to, government organizations are set up to oversee things. Linus Baker is a case worker for DICOMY, seeing that orphanages for magical children are treating their wards appropriately. He is in his 40s and has lived a rather lonely life outside of his cat. When he is given a special assignment, he comes to an island orphanage that houses 6 very special magical children. Although he was chosen because of his ability to remain impartial, he gets sucked in by the feeling of belonging. He will have to face what this means for his work.
This book is incredible diversity friendly. It is body positive, includes black representation, has people in the LGBTQ+ community, and is accepting of all ages. The main message of the story is acceptance. The book explores what we can do on both a small and a large scale to bring this about. Although I wouldn't call it a twist, the end is somewhat surprising. As I do not wish to spoil, I will say that I am not talking about the epilogue. It is something Linus does for those not in his care.
The pacing, feelings, and characters make The House in the Cerulean Sea the success it is. I took a poll earlier today, asking people who their favorite child is from the book. "How dare you make me pick?" was the lead option, which is certainly telling. The book takes place over a month. Unlike Under the Whispering Door, the reader gets a strong sense of how far along they are in the book. It doesn't rush itself, though. What feels like a much longer time for Linus reads accurately. His time spent with his found family is just as important to the reader as the it is to the characters.
Klune challenges expectations both through his characters and in the genre. This book is full of magic and it does put effort into having that be a believable aspect of the world, but it is not high fantasy. The Hero's Journey is followed in this story, although in a subverted way. Linus meets many characters that help him grow from the naive buffoon he was to the strong caregiver he becomes. These are the children who were taught that because they were different, they were evil or monsters. These children are unlearning these notions and Linus learns how to see past what they are into who they are.
If you're looking for something heartwarming and explorative, please read TJ Kulne's The House in the Cerulean Sea. You are likely to leave it feeling seen and enriched. And if you choose to read it over audiobook, Chauncey's voice is a real treat. If you have never read anything by Klune, this is an excellent place to start. If you have, he is a consistent writer that will capture your heart again!
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