Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986). Daisy, 11, used her powers to throw a chair at another kid, Marcus. We used to have a rescue, a Siberian husky, whom we named Lucy. There are many villains in the world, and I remain unconvinced that T. J. Klune is one of them. Tom Doherty Books. You can refer to the answers below. Right out of the gates, it has a lot about it that I love in fantasy novels: Who is just a regular person in a world where magic exists. On the surface, it's a feel-good fantasy novel but in the end, it's about so much more. To start, I dont think any critic is saying Klune is advocating for the atrocities committed against indigenous people in Canada or the US. He loves reading and hoarding books, and enjoys bothering humans with what he thinks of them. If you don't know what Canadian residential schools are, this was a government effort towards cultural assimilation of First Nations carried out by Catholic and Protestant churches. But its not on white people to tell them how they should feel about it. Common Sense Media. That trauma may be impacted by the author expressly taking the crimes against their ancestors and turning them into a whimsical story where the victims (the magical beings/indigenous people) are happy in their boarding home. You can help us help kids by Casting the romantic leads as two gentlemen in their forties gives the story something new and jaunty, but The House in the Cerulean Sea otherwise treads the tried-and-true household of magical misfits theme. I just absolutely hate this type of fantasy. , Ha ok good to knowbut.you just lost me at little gnome girl. Do you see anything similar happening in your own day-to-day life? I believe that Mr Klune wrote this book with the sincere hope that he would be adding something good and positive to the world. Pick it back up and please finish it! Sure, we can say that it is unreasonable (trivialising, even) to fantasise about how one man is able to dismantle systemic racism with a little help from some of his friends, but I would say it is equally unreasonable to believe that by directing hate to an author who wrote a book which is only tenuously linked to a tragedy that had befallen First Nation people, they have done even the least bit of good for them. And I understand why they did it. For more on this challenge and why Im forcing myself to do it, read THIS POST**. Garden Gal Why Kant and Schopenhauer? And furthermore, Linus ethnicity was never clarified in the book, not even once. Now, I must say that Im disappointed that I just couldnt do it. Coincidentally, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about found families and islands, and it features someplace called the Marsyas Island Orphanage which is the home of an orphan named Lucyshort for Lucifer, for he is the Antichristwhere he lived with five other dangerous children: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, a were-Pomeranian, and a bellhop (which is just about the only aspect of Chaunceys identity that is clear to us). There he meets the mysterious Mr. Bellows, who runs the mysterious facility that houses six very quirky kids. The House in the Cerulean Sea Audiobook Free Online Full. That's page 1. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune is an uplifting, heart-warming fantasy tale that's become a New York Times, USA Today and Washington Post bestseller. the discovery of the remains of 215 First Nation children near Kamloops Indian Residential School, the subsequent discovery of 751 unmarked graves at the Marieval Indian Residential School. I tear. Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. I think it is also important to believe that no matter how imperfect or flawed we are, we are still capable of making meaningful changes to the world we live in. A dangerous task. They only knew because he informed them, and I daresay some of his haters only learned about the Sixties Scoop and residential schools because he chose to use his platform to talk about it. Linus is chosen for his strict rule-following and thorough reports, so he's charged with investigating a peculiar foster home of magical children. I wonder if that could make the story more tolerable for you? As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected placeand realizing that family is yours. I loved this book. If you can distill a lovely day by the sea, your favourite song, and a warm hug by someone who loves you dearly into the form of a book, that book would be T. J. Klunes The House in the Cerulean Sea. How Do I Protect My Young Child from Cyberbullying? I share your distaste for fantasy novels, and, for that reason, also considered stopping at the 70-page mark. If you can distill a lovely day by the sea, your favourite song, and a warm hug by someone who loves you dearly into the form of a book, that book would be T. J. Klunes The House in the Cerulean Sea. Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. The story follows Linus Baker, a 40-year-old Case Worker from the Department in Charge of Magical Youths as he travels to this highly classified location, burdened with the task of figuring out if the children are being adequately cared for (and if they, particularly Lucy, are likely to bring about the end of the world). Oh, he understood why there was secrecy and could even comprehend the need for it. Both, in their own ways, are different forms of wish fulfillment. Mild-mannered government caseworker Linus Baker is sent on a secret assignment to an island orphanage he's never even heard of. A burning secret. He has been working the job for seventeen years, and now he is forty, rotund, and alone. Im so happy I did!!!! It is a power fantasy birthed by our own sense of powerlessness. Brittle and thin. It offers up the absurd fantasy that one man doing small, achievable acts of kindness in the right place at the right time can change the world. Set in a world much like our own ('50s music plays a big role), it's the tale of Linus Baker, a downtrodden, dutiful middle-aged bureaucrat who's spent his entire career toiling for DICOMY (Department In Charge of Magical Youth), which, in theory, is the government agency in charge of protecting assorted gnomes, sprites, wyverns and the like from mistreatment, violence, and death at the hands of humans. Or maybe I am just getting old. There's a dreamlike quality to Klune's writing that entices . I tear. View all posts by bookcoffeehappy. more Tor Books Paperback December 2020 400 Pages 9781250217318 Buy the Book $18.99 About the Author Praise Discussion Questions Excerpt Third, because the author is on the record about the inspiration of the book, the link isnt tenuous. The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases. Linus and Arthur are both queer characters, but this isn't a central plotline of the story. 3 answers. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. I love this review so much! And if I can offer any criticism of The House in the Cerulean Sea, its that the book is pure wish fulfillment. [10], Klune was nominated as an all-time favourite M/M author on the book review website Goodreads in 2017. Thank you so much for sharing . Lucy frowned. Here, even the pudgy, dreary person finds love. "The House in the Cerulean Sea" by TJ Klune Courtesy of MacMillan Publishers Jolie Hughes of Morgan Hill Bookstore in New London, N.H. has a recommendation for people who want a summer read that . Calliope isn't the tamest of cats and he thought it was crucial that you know that. Being queer himself, Klune believes. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets. It follows the story of a government worker who is assigned to an orphanage to see if it is still worth running, or should be closed down. And then around page 70ish there was a statue. Linus isn't the first hero to be transformed by his experiences on an island. It is sad, but I guess there's no point to morose. Powerful Stories About Martin Luther King Jr. Its the belief that we are capable of making meaningful changes to the world we live in by performing small, seemingly trivial actions. Queer romantic fiction and fantasy writer (born 1982). *Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends! To answer questions about The House in the Cerulean Sea , please sign up . in Journalism from Marist College and previously wrote for BuzzFeed's Shopping and Products beat. **This is book #1 of the reading challenge that I set up for myself. It has become one of my favorites of al time. It comes from a place of anger and an unhappiness at the state of the world, and a sincere wish to right the wrongs we see. An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected placeand realizing that family is yours. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. We won't share this comment without your permission. Its the best book I read this yearand I suspect it will remain, always, one of the sweetest books I have ever read. A Naga is a divine dragon from Eastern Hindu-Buddhist tradition. 'I loved it. Linus Baker This character is the main character; he is a caseworker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. I wish there were pictures of the 7 creatures. The House in the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. I think it is also important to believe that no matter how imperfect or flawed we are, we are still capable of making meaningful changes to the world we live in. A dangerous task. With heartwarming characters, a comforting aesthetic, and a mind-blowing ending, it's a thoroughly enjoyable read from cover to cover. An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected placeand realizing that family is yours. Browse titles with similar subject matter. While people do gravitate towards colours for subjective reasons, and some don't even notice what colour they are wearing, it has become increasingly hard to distance yourself. The good news is, instead of a follow-up to the Marsyas residence life, T.J. Klune has two other stand . Your article is supremely well written, and I think you have a good idea of whats really going on. Details add ISBN-13: 9781250217318 ISBN-10: 1250217318 Publisher: Tor Books Publish Date: December 2020 Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches As the narrative utilizes a limited third-person perspective, the reader's understanding of the world of the novel is filtered through him. They tell things for others to read, but they only see the words, and not what the words are written upon. Same spirit, new stories. The message is strong and the subtle character nuances make it very fresh and important for our time. Sorry it wasnt your thing. Second, to ask what damage did this book do to indigenous people is to trivialize indigenous peoples generational trauma. On the long side for some middle grade readersbut a great choice for other kids who are reading above grade level but not ready for typical YA/adult content. Due to the prevalence of pen names in M/M romantic fiction, he wrote under the pseudonym TJ Klune. No made up worlds, no moving statues, no levitating blocks, etc. What honesty! 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