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Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexism, Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism, Deportation
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Hate crime, Racism
Minor: Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Violence, Death of parent, War
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Classism
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment
However, this sequel dives more deeply into the institutional and historical roots of oppression, and the impacts of the resulting traumas on both individuals and communities. Both books emphasize the power of forming small pockets of safe spaces to heal within a world of persecution, but in Somewhere Beyond the Sea, the characters additionally take steps to dismantle systems of oppression.
It's worth addressing the criticism the author received for drawing inspiration from the historical and ongoing genocide of First Nations people by the Canadian government. In particular, Cerulean has been criticized as a white savior narrative, and for the allegory of magical ability as race coming across as simultaneously trivializing native peoples and othering them as non-human. These critiques are not unfounded. At the same time, I believe the sequel effectively addresses at least two of these issues: First, the centering of a magical character as narrator emphasizes that while allyship is valuable, oppressed people are in the best position to understand their struggles and needs, and are quite capable on their own; second, the explicit and implicit references to oppression and abuse make clear that there is no whimsy in trauma.
Ultimately, while The Cerulean Chronicles initially appear to be only fairytales where love conquers all, the second installment reveals the underlying darkness.
Is it fancifully optimistic wish fulfillment? Yes. Are the characters all wise beyond their years and incredibly emotionally intelligent / well emotionally regulated despite having barely begun to heal from their trauma? Yes.
And so what?
Graphic: Hate crime
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Xenophobia, Grief, Abandonment
Minor: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
I’m so distraught about the state of humanity in the US right now. This book tells me to remain hopeful and believe in the righteousness and goodness of people who will stand in solidarity with us. With elections only a couple of weeks away and the MAGA party (I refuse to call them Republicans) setting up to destroy and rebuild the country in its pre-Civil War image, hope is a hard resource to find right now. The most I hope for is that this author is right - that we have the right to hope that our citizenship will be defended and allowed to live in peace with the full authority to exist as we are - someday.
Graphic: Ableism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
It's been a very difficult few years, as so many politicians, authors, etc have been extremely vocal about their disdain for specific members of the LGBT+ community. And I really felt like Klune was fed up and ready to use his skills as a writer to express this. That's what this book is. The politics are heavy, the analogy to real life is no longer charmingly blurred, and Klune does not mince words. I can understand why some people might find this repetitive and too in your face, but as someone who has watched friends suffer and fear for their own safety, some even having to leave their homes due to discriminatory laws- I didn't think it was over the top at all.
I laughed, I cried, and in the end, I'm left with the hope that change can happen if we fight for it. The children were just as delightful as the first book and their growth was realistic and sweet. There wasn't much romance in this one, but the little bits we did get were sappy and adorable.
It's a difficult read, which I didn't expect prior to starting. But I hope people will still give it a shot, because it's good. We need books like this. And I'm so happy it was Klune who took on the challenge.
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Sexism, Abandonment, Colonisation
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Cursing