Reviews tagging 'Hate crime'

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

156 reviews

ravenpuff's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Religious bigotry

harleyqueen's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

AMAZING , beautiful story about not judging others based on rumour or sight . A gay tale with an emotional impact. Linus works for a magical version of social services , his job is to make sure orphanages are up to code . But when he's sent to an orphanage classified as tier 4 the most difficult how will he fair ?

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Hate crime

birdeynamnam's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Homophobia, Violence, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, and Confinement

lwprice1209's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing 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

5.0

Such a sweet book! Highly recommend!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Hate crime, and Physical abuse

I added all of those content warnings which make this book sound upsetting, but it’s so lovely and hopeful! Read it!

lilacs_book_bower's review

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

On the surface this is a sweet book.  A bureaucrat named Linus goes to an orphanage to see how things are going with the magical children and their mysterious headmaster, for lack of a better term.  The kids are sweet and he comes to love them and Arthur, the headmaster (who deeply loves and cares for the children).  I was very fond of Arthur and the children, and was passingly fond of Linus.  We are told he is by the book and seems unflappable, which is why he was chosen for this review by the government agency he works for.  But he sort of dithers around and seems very surprised and shocked by the kids.  We are constantly told how wonderful he is, but I don't quite see it?  Because he is open-minded and not a jerk to the kids?  I also think the book is a smidge too long.  I found it to be a soothing book about giving people chances and not judging them for being different, and that everyone deserves a place to call home with people who love them.  

HOWEVER, there are some controversies about this book, as Klune was at least partially inspired by residential schools, where Indigenous children were taken from their families and placed in to orphanages, treated brutally (some even killed) to try to assimilate them into white society and culture.  There are also some excellent points to be made about trauma and children in foster care systems, and whether or not that is accurately reflected here in the book.  As I have no experience with the foster care system, and I am not an Indigenous Person, or even a person of color, I do not want to make a judgement call on this, nor do I feel able to.  I have seen comments on both sides about these issues.  What is clear is that Klune is using the magical children as an allegory to show the oppression of a marginalized group by society, culture, and the government.  I think we can all appreciate the attempt. But how people feel going from there is really going to be up to each person and their individual lives and experiences.  The story and the characters are sweet and soothing, but there is still a lot I feel uncertain about.  I did not want to ignore the issues that many other readers have addressed much better than I have.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Bullying, and Confinement

Minor: Grief, Torture, Hate crime, Violence, Body shaming, Death, and Emotional abuse

mags_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

I enjoyed this book, but found the dialogue rather stilted and preachy.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Racism, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Gore, Blood, Body horror, and Animal death

4pmbookstacker's review against another edition

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

5.0

This is my current favorite read. It was super wholesome, and the relationships between the characters are so loveable. Had a beautiful happy ending that made me cry. A total must-read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Xenophobia, and Hate crime

Moderate: Ableism and Homophobia

annorabrady's review against another edition

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

4.75

This book started slower than other books I've read by TJ Klune but the story was no less wonderful. Klune makes loving the characters and their journeys seem effortless. 

I will say that care should be taken with those who might be affected by those who struggle with eating disorders. There is a lot of passages about negstige self-image surrounding weight, body shaming, and disordered eating. It is done as part of the character's development but it could be triggering. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Ableism, Child abuse, and Hate crime

glammster's review

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Xenophobia, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Confinement, and Cannibalism

tamara_joy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Grief, Body shaming, and Hate crime