A review by just_one_more_paige
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective 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? No

5.0

 
For a hot second there, this book was everywhere. And the waitlist at the library for it is…intense. But I have to say, I officially added myself to that waitlist only after seeing @readingismagical and @tracycatherinereads rave about it. Took me awhile to get my hands on it, btu here we are. And WHOA was it worth the wait! 
 
Linus Baker is a caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, extremely rules-conscious and comfortable with doing his job and returning home to his small house with his cat and his records as company. But his attention to minute detail catches the eye of Extremely Upper Management and he is given a highly classified special inspection project – a month long visit to an orphanage where particularly dangerous magical children are sent. Linus arrives at the orphanage expecting the worst, only to find that, no matter their incredible abilities/appearances, the six children are just that: children. Plus, there is something about the master of the orphanage, Arthur Parnasus, who mysteriousness and clear love for/protection of the children pulls at Linus in a way he never would have anticipated. 
 
My goodness. This is like, the most perfect comfort novel that was ever written. Like, wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket in front of a fire with a warm (boozy) drink on a cold, rainy day level of comfort. Linus made me smile from page one, his little quirks and clear feelings of not fitting in and rule-following was just super sweet, even when you wanted to yell at him to shake it up, let go of the rules and look past the “right in front of his nose.” So, naturally, I was super excited to see him thrown out of his little bubble with no preparation – it was endearing to the extreme to watch him struggle, knowing that it was necessary and important growth for both his own happiness and the lives/safety of the children he loudly claimed to defend. With that, watching him grow into a person that didn’t just say he cared, but learned how to truly show it and follow-through on it in meaningful ways was heart-warming. Plus, the clear connection between himself and Arthur, and the complexities of how it grows, enhanced/supported by Linus’ oddities in ways that he could never have known himself capable of was wonderful and, again, so heartwarming. Now, Linus was of course our “hero,” but the supporting cast, from Arthur to the island’s caretaker sprite Zoe, to the village mayor Helen were shining beacons of love and acceptance as well. Plus, the children themselves. Oh my goodness – here is a found family to melt you heart like you’ve never met. Quirky in all the best ways! From Lucy’s world-burning proclamations to Chauncy’s obsession with bellhops, to Theodore’s button hoard to Sal’s quiet strength to Talia’s gardening and death threats to Phee’s magical natural connections I just loved them all so much! So. Much. 
 
Looking a little deeper though, this was also a spectacular parable about the dangers of complacency and ignoring what doesn’t immediately affect us, the limitations and passive danger of routine. The messages about the imminent need for acceptance, the horrible ways differences turn to fear which turns into hate, the inevitable harm that comes from separating people who are different/special for their own safety, and the incredible benefit (for everyone) that comes from stepping outside of one’s personal bubble/reality to see things from other perspectives are all phenomenally communicated. This story is sweet and wholesome and full of happy endings, but it is also full of clear warnings about how being a “good” person isn’t enough, that injustice/prejudice must constantly and actively be fought in order for change/eradication to be possible. Klune also asks important questions about who was involved when rules for “the greater good” were made and whose voices weren’t at the table for those decisions. He also addresses tough questions about protecting children from versus preparing them for the reality of the world and where the line is there, who decides it, which children benefit or are harmed by who makes those calls for them. Honestly, the combination of inspirational and uplifting plotlines versus reflective and philosophically challenging themes into something that is both comforting and challenging is truly a marvel. 
 
If you have ever been maligned or side-lined for being different, you’ll find a home in this story. Klune’s own experiences as a queer person have clearly informed his writing and the comfort and love and recognition of marginalization in these pages for that community comes through with strength and clarity. Plus, it’s done with a writing style that is snarky, fun, tongue-in-cheek just full of nostalgia for anyone who grew up reading old-school MG fantasy (but like, with way better representativeness/inclusivity, obvs). If you enjoyed the Series of Unfortunate Events, X-Men, or the Wayward Children series, you will love this one – it takes aspects of all those, but combines them with a charm all its own. And like, just look at that cover! *heart eyes* But seriously, you’ll finish this book full of joy and fullness, knowing that there really is no one right way to be as a family/person/community, as long as you have acceptance and love. Let me add my voice to those others who are unreservedly recommending this book!      
 
“Why is it that I must always worry about tomorrow?” 
 
“They fear what they don’t understand. And that fear turns to hate for reasons I’m sure even they can’t begin to comprehend. […] This can’t be the first time you’ve heard of this. It happens everywhere.” 
 
“Sometimes […] our prejudices color our thoughts when we least expect them to. If we can recognize that and learn from it, we can become better people.” 
 
“Because even the bravest of us can still be afraid sometimes, so long as we don’t let our fear become all we know.” 
 
“Arthur says that we should always make time for the things we like… If we don’t, we might forget how to be happy.” 
 
“Home is where you feel like yourself. […] Home is where we get to be who we are.” 
 
“Just because you don’t experience prejudice in your everyday doesn’t stop it from existing for the rest of us.” 
 
“It was just…hidden away. I knew what to look for because I listened for it. As long as you listen, you can hear all manner of things you never thought were there to begin with.” 
 
“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.” 
 
“We get trapped in our own little bubbles, and even though the world is a wide and mysterious place, our bubbles keep us safe from that. To our detriment. […] But it’s so easy because there’s something soothing about routine. Day in and day out, it’s always the same. When we’re shaken from that, when that bubble bursts, it can be hard to understand all that we’ve missed. We might even fear it. Some of us even fight to try and get it back.” 
 
“A home isn’t always the house we live in. It’s also the people we choose to surround ourselves with.” 
 
“But those of us who dream of impossible things know just how far we can go when pushed to do so.” 
 
“...there can be magic in the ordinary.” 
 
“Sometimes, he thought to himself in a house in a cerulean sea, you were able to choose the life you wanted. And if you were of the lucky sort, sometimes that life chose you back.” 
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