Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

149 reviews

octopus_farmer's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Frankly, the beginning of this book irked me. I found it flat and irritating and monotonous - Linus's life in the city stinks, and he's merely surviving in an almost dystopian setting until he travels to an island in the ocean full of children that scare him because they aren't typical. I also found his floundering a little disingenuous - his adamant excuses about the bounds of his job as a caseworker probably needed to be there for him to break out of his learned obedience, but it really seemed like the worst kind of sitcom to me, where each of the children had their own gag and he'd react in a bumbling way. 

And then something changed, and I cannot precisely put my finger on it, but I began to enjoy the book for its heart. It's still a beach read in my mind, and I cannot reconcile Linus' strange behavior between recognizing bigotry (since some of the story seemed to entail him unlearning similar lessons) and also wanting to put the children in that environment, though it made more sense once it actually happened. In fact, its clearly allegorical structure seems really simplistic and heavy-handed at times, with the children standing in for a variety of marginalized people without really acknowledging the specifics of how bigotry works, what intersectionality is or realizes (for instance, it seemed important that Sal was Black, but his race wasn't ever remarked on as a part of his struggle as apparently the only werewolf in the world. Maybe Klune didn't want to bother with these things and created a world that has no racism or homophobia, but there's also that weird interaction with Linus' neighbor who 'forgets' he's 'not one for the ladies'?? I digress), how resistance can work outside the system, or what 'passing' means for different people. For this reason, I also have some questions about the actual audience of this book, as it seemed to straddle adult and YA. But on the whole, I found it sweet. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fatphobia

Minor: Sexual content, Child abuse, Cursing, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Body shaming, and Confinement

There's a character

Lucy, the Antichrist

that makes wildly violent statements to people, but it's mostly clear that it is in jest.

capucapulet's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism

amberrenfrey's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Genocide

Minor: Body horror, Homophobia, Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

jedore's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

"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."

Even though fantasy is not my favorite genre, there was no way I was bypassing this book—it was getting a ton of rave time in my online book groups and I wanted to see if it lived up to the hype. 

After just a few pages, I was surprised to find out that it's actually young adult fiction. (If it's not officially classified as such, somebody was sleeping on the job or had some sort of literary agenda.) While very pleasantly and well written, it's definitely way more simplistic than most adult novels. And, it's far lighter than Harry Potter.

On the politically correct scale, it's a heavy weight. Even Lucifer (AKA Lucy), the son of Satan, is not to be feared or judged. 😄 

If you're looking for a marshmallowy feel good book, you've found it. It's basically the equivalent of watching one of those intelligent animated movies that speak to both kids and adults. (In fact, if this isn't made into a movie, I will be shocked.) Thanks to TJ Klune, I could literally see each character on my mental movie screen.

For me, this was an enjoyable romp into young adult land. I'm not a raver, just a liker.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Homophobia and Physical abuse

isaaah's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, and Self harm

nebraskanwriter's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book touched my heart so deeply, it reached inside of me and warmed me to my core. All of the children were so precious, even Lucifer.  What a lovely, feel good story. It made me feel warm and cozy, like sitting next to a nice fire. 

This was my face the entire time reading it: 🥺

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Homophobia, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Bullying, Abandonment, Ableism, and Medical content

elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Racism, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Physical abuse

bookishchef's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

So I gave this a 4,5 when I originally read it. 

But I have since then v much changed my mind about TJ Klune and whether I condone him taking the Sixties Scoop as a form of inspiration. 

So now it's 2 stars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism and Xenophobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Confinement, Fatphobia, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, and Physical abuse

samothraces's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Hate crime, and Child abuse

cibani's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment