Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by mlkai
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
nice to read something so heartwarming. there were a few times i laughed, a few more where i teared up.
i would’ve loved more interaction with phee and theodore, they felt like the least fleshed out children.
the epilogue felt too“where going to change the world” for me and named way more bureaucratic change than felt plausible within a year. it was long and i wish we had just been left with the ending as it, especially as there’s a sequel. (yes he might not have planned a sequel, but regardless,) the epilogue gave too strong of white saviorism vibes that it kind of tainted the story for me.
halfway through i learned about the controversial sixties scoop inspo (i’ll let you look this up yourself) and didn’t know how to feel about it. i still don’t, so that’s something to sit with.
i would’ve loved more interaction with phee and theodore, they felt like the least fleshed out children.
the epilogue felt too
halfway through i learned about the controversial sixties scoop inspo (i’ll let you look this up yourself) and didn’t know how to feel about it. i still don’t, so that’s something to sit with.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Torture, Violence, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury