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A review by itsnotalakeitsanocean
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
fast-paced
COMPLETE RE-EDIT OF MY REVIEW BECAUSE I'VE CHANGED MY OPINION ON THIS BOOK!
I am no longer giving Klune any benefits of the doubt. To appropriate a tragedy that effects the Native populations of America and Canada - the violent impact of which is still being felt to this day, and is still being perpetrated in different, horrifying forms - and to then write a so-called inspirational queer found family story that posits "oh if only people were just kinder we could end racism and all get along" is absolutely disgusting and he should be ashamed of this work.
This isn't even going into the unfortunate implications of changing the narrative of very real Native children who are dehumanised by real people into monster children, and having them segregated on an island lest they be subjected to being hate crimed by the local, prejudiced population (not that the prejudice is ever properly written about besides a few petty disagreements, because otherwise it would ruin the cutesy-wutesy wholesome vibes 🙄).
Reads With Rachel recently put out a video that explains the problems far more eloquently than I ever could that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlFIppBQFl8
I am no longer giving Klune any benefits of the doubt. To appropriate a tragedy that effects the Native populations of America and Canada - the violent impact of which is still being felt to this day, and is still being perpetrated in different, horrifying forms - and to then write a so-called inspirational queer found family story that posits "oh if only people were just kinder we could end racism and all get along" is absolutely disgusting and he should be ashamed of this work.
This isn't even going into the unfortunate implications of changing the narrative of very real Native children who are dehumanised by real people into monster children, and having them segregated on an island lest they be subjected to being hate crimed by the local, prejudiced population (not that the prejudice is ever properly written about besides a few petty disagreements, because otherwise it would ruin the cutesy-wutesy wholesome vibes 🙄).
Reads With Rachel recently put out a video that explains the problems far more eloquently than I ever could that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlFIppBQFl8
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Xenophobia
Moderate: Confinement, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, and Fatphobia
Minor: Religious bigotry