It's a beautiful book' - Charlaine Harris, number one New York Times bestselling author People say that this book is WONDERFUL! I am but paper, and though there are many like me, none are exactly the same. 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. Sent to report on a remote boarding school, its unusual master, and its even more unusual students (one of whom is believed to be the 6-year-old son of Satan), Linus soon learns there's quite a bit he hasn't been told. "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 . The book certainly offers some unique contributions within the fantasy and young adult genres, and it is backed . Home is a multi-layered theme in the novel, as it relates to both places and people. I alternated between smiling to myself and tearing up when I read it. You are looking : the house in the cerulean sea controversy Contents 1.So, about that 'House in the Cerulean Sea' controversy? Now, I shant go too deeply into the history of it all because there have been reams enough written about it but basically, Mr Klune said that while he already figured out the general plot about an Orwellian world where magical children face bigotry and discrimination just for merely existing, the story didnt become clear to him until he learned about the Sixties Scoop in Canada: beginning in the 1950s and continuing through the 1980s, indigenous children were taken from their homes and families and placed into government-sanctioned facilities, such as residential schools. Maybe I will give it another try one day. And Mr Klunes detractors believe they are combating some harm that he is doing with his little fantasy novel. in Journalism from Marist College and previously wrote for BuzzFeed's Shopping and Products beat. TJ Klune, 2019. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Not only is the young adult novel a bestseller in the New York Times, USA Today and Washington Post, it also won the 2021 Alex Award and 2021 RUSA Reading list. The charming contemporary fantasy crossed genre thresholds to capture the . As for the charge of trivialising an actual tragedy, I think one has to decide for themselves if a story can trivialise something it literally does not reference in the text at all, even though the author may have drawn inspiration from it. I am not a fantasy genre reader either and read it for a challenge. Email us at reviews@insider.com. The characters he meets there will steal your heart. One common thread I see is that many who are angry at Mr Klune did not even realise that he was drawing inspiration from the Sixties Scoop initially, with some even saying that they adored the book before they learned about that unseen aspect of it. [4][5], In 2013, Klune proposed to author Eric Arvin at the GayRomLit Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. I stopped reading..but you shouldnt! Theyre a story. 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. Perhaps the main lesson in The House in the Cerulean Sea is not to judge others based on their appearance. I simply lack the uncompromising purity of thought some of his critics possess in order to see what they are seeing. It is a power fantasy birthed by our own sense of powerlessness. I just absolutely hate this type of fantasy. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. How Do I Protect My Young Child from Cyberbullying? The prose is a touch wooden in places, but fans of quirky fantasy will eat it up. Poignant, funny medieval tale skewers ignorance, bigotry. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free. A burning secret. And I feel thatthose who said he glamourised residential schools in the bookare doing so in incredibly bad faith since the whole point of the book tries to make is that such state-run facilities are bad. In the epilogue of The House in the Cerulean Sea, the author seems to be setting up a potential sequel, and frankly, because of this, I'm a bit annoyed after finding out there's no sequel planned for the book.. "The House in the Cerulean Sea" is a beautiful fantasy story that begins with Linus Baker, a caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, who has just been assigned a top-secret case. [19][20] Publishers Weekly calls it a thought-provoking Orwellian fantasy in its starred review. Take me in hardened hands, and I crumple. This Lucy. I hate books in this genre, I hate television shows in this genre, I HATE movies in this genre. Its the same reason why Mr Klune wrote the book, why I love the book, and why they hate the book. Why bother? The following summaries about the house in the cerulean sea controversy will help you make more personal choices about more accurate and faster information. "1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in." Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless So I am going to say something nice (and true) about Mr Klunes book because I think we can be kinder to this paper man. Oh, he understood why there was secrecy and could even comprehend the need for it. 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. Queer romantic fiction and fantasy writer (born 1982). So what if I, an adult, want to indulge in a daydream in which my Sword of Destiny is my good intentions, and believeeven for just a few hundred pages that if I wield it sincerely and earnestly enough, I can defeat deeply entrenched systemic issues of bigotry and discrimination in just a couple of weeks? Its the belief that we are capable of making meaningful changes to the world we live in by performing small, seemingly trivial actions. In order to compare the two books I will first analyze them separately before taking a look at them side by side. His fantasy novel The House in the Cerulean Sea is a New York Times best seller and winner of the 2021 Alex and Mythopoeic Awards.Klune has spoken about how his asexuality influences his writing. I also liked the narrative tone that exaggerates the foibles of the world and minor characters to great effect. Also easier to follow than some other fantasy books Ive read. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. SO. Profiting from both the cultural and literal genocide of indigenous people. I recently picked it up again to revisit the comfort of the magical house in the Cerulean Sea and fondly discovered once more why it comes so highly recommended by readers on TikTok. Garden Gal Why Kant and Schopenhauer? So, this is it? A really lovely book for middle grade, YA, and adult readers! Now, I must say that Im disappointed that I just couldnt do it. And furthermore, Linus ethnicity was never clarified in the book, not even once. I loved how the author cleverly wove quantum physics into the story. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Or maybe I am just getting old. Tom Doherty Books. 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. I am not much of a religion guy but I think it is important to have faith that no matter how unlikely it is, we can be anything we want. What did you think? 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. House in the Cerulean Sea By Ccile Tasson, Tj Klune and T. J. Klune A magical island. By writing The House in the Cerulean Sea, they said that Mr Klune is. But I prevailed, and am now at the halfway mark. Linus Baker is a man leading an ordinary, boring life slaving away at his job as a case worker for orphanages under the care of the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. Brittle and thin. Librarian insisted that this descriptor be added. So true. By Chad Armstrong The House in the Cerulean Sea is available now. This book highlights that real love is non-discriminatory, as well as emphasizes power of basic kindness. Parents need to know that The House in the Cerulean Sea is a fantasy novel by TJ Klune, aimed at an adult audience but finding many appreciative teen readers. Genres Fantasy FictionLGBTRomanceYoung AdultAudiobookQueer .more 394 pages, Kindle Edition First published March 16, 2020 Book details & editions Trivialising the tragedy by turning it into a feel good fantasy analogue story. ', "Linus shook his head. A Naga is a divine dragon from Eastern Hindu-Buddhist tradition. Sign up for our newsletter to get honest reviews on top products & services delivered weekly to your inbox. I so appreciate you sharing another perspective. Both, in their own ways, are different forms of wish fulfillment. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an adult fantasy novel, originally published on March 17, 2020. 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. "1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in." Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless Klune specifically explores how and why the actions and words of adults have long-term effects on children. What honesty! 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 As a kid, I loved those stories of some random farm boy discovering that he is literally chosen by fate to brandish earthshaking magic to vanquish evil. While I do love fantasy as a genre, thats not why I loved The House on the Cerulean Sea. If I sound angry it's at this this man, not you.'. It is wish-fulfillment. This book does include grown-up themes (such as romance, maltreatment of foster children) but with a gentleness that makes it accessible and appropriate for upper elementary and middle schoolers. Whatever it is, I find it amusing that when I was younger, heroes are the people I want to be and now, in my thirties, I want heroes to be like me. What age is The House in the Cerulean Sea for? Whatever it is, I find it amusing that when I was younger, heroes are the people I want to be and now, in my thirties, I want heroes to be like me. It was a little gnome girl named Talia that he mistook for a lawn ornament. Linus suggests that perhaps some type of "extreme emotion state" triggered her powers. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. Third, because the author is on the record about the inspiration of the book, the link isnt tenuous. Now, while I am not white, I am also not an indigenous First Nation person either, and I dont think anyone should listen to me but just in case you are, I wish to say I believe one has to be deeply uncharitable to read such heinous crimes into Mr Klunes book. Am I wrong? Marcus 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. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. And it isnt even a particularly original idea (I mean, its practically just X-Men) and if he didnt talk about his inspirations, no one could even tell. Fuck realism. As James Baldwin wisely noted "Children have never been very good at . Profiting from both the cultural and literal genocide of indigenous people. *, *Leaving a positive review on myFacebook page*, The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE, The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE, I'm the blogger behind www.bookcoffeehappy.com! That we are capable of making meaningful changes to the world and minor characters great. Hindu-Buddhist tradition another try one day both, in 2013, Klune proposed to author Eric Arvin at the mark... 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