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adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Complicated
What a beautiful book to finish reading on the first day of Pride month! The author’s note at the end is where my tears came. As someone who grew up with Harry Potter and is now parenting a daughter discovering the magic of Harry Potter, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to reconcile such an incredible story and lessons with an author who holds such hateful views and is actively using her wealth to inflict harm on the trans community. So, TJ Klune dubbing themself the “Anti-JK Rowling” was a nice bow to end this story. I fell more in love with the characters in this book; I hadn’t connected with them the same way in the first one. The messages of love, acceptance, and pride were deeply appreciated in this divisive moment we now find ourselves in. Really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Another queer, funny, and heartwarming book filled with endearing characters, although I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first. It felt a little more forced and heavy handed in exploring the message.
Update: When I read this book, I was unaware that the primary inspiration was taken from residential schools and their violent, traumatic history. These schools and their hard have never truly or fully been acknowledged nor have reparations been made to victims and their families. Knowing this and the author’s lack of response or, to my knowledge, contribution to organizations supporting those affected, I will unfortunately no longer be recommending these books and would hesitate to invest in other works at this time, especially over other authors.
Update: When I read this book, I was unaware that the primary inspiration was taken from residential schools and their violent, traumatic history. These schools and their hard have never truly or fully been acknowledged nor have reparations been made to victims and their families. Knowing this and the author’s lack of response or, to my knowledge, contribution to organizations supporting those affected, I will unfortunately no longer be recommending these books and would hesitate to invest in other works at this time, especially over other authors.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A little on the nose trying to reflect the current moment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Xenophobia
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Fire/Fire injury
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
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:
Complicated
I don’t know that this, or any other sequel (should there be more later), will ever fully compare to what I felt reading House in the Cerulean Sea for the first time, but god, do I adore these characters. God, do I adore these children. The warmest hug of an ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment
Moderate: Grief
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Such a cute story. I can see myself rereading the duology when the news of LGBTQ discrimination in the US gets too much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexism