The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. New York: A Tom Doherty Associates Book, New York, 2020. 394 pages. *****
Linus Baker is a by-the-book caseworker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. His job is to inspect orphanages and determine if the children are cared for appropriately according to the Rules and Regulations. He is given a highly classified secret assignment to travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage in the Cerulean Sea. There are 6 children on the island with Master Arthur Parnassus.
Given folders and paperwork on the children doesn't prepare him for the creatures he encounters on the island. The more Linus gets to the know the children, the more he realizes that there are circumstances when the Rules and Regulations don't apply and sometimes family and home can be discovered in the strangest places.
I love a well-written fantasy book filled with whimsy, fun, and love. I have read that it is a "Gay" book. While I will certainly recommend it to anyone, I don't like labels. It is a love story (nothing graphic); all alluded to and about acceptance for others and who we are.
Some controversy has surfaced about the source of Klune's inspiration for this story:
The Big Idea - https://whatever.scalzi.com/2020/03/17/the-big-idea-tj-klune/?fbclid=IwAR1GzfSh7VWrFKCjqUB3z_P41dAxGJHHXd1evkQqvQwZOwQAgC9mC2x1Re8
On TJ Klune's the House in the Cerulean Sea and the Right to Write
Perfect for a Young Adult.
cerulean - A deep sky-blue color.
TJ KLUNE is a Lambda Literary Award-winning author (Into This River I Drown) and an ex-claims examiner for an insurance company. His novels include the Green Creek series, The House on the Cerulean Sea and The Exraordinaries. Being queer himself, TJ believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive, queer representation in stories.
Tj can be reached at tjklunebooks@yahoo.com.
Follow me on IG at flamazing_books
#fantasybook
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