
The House in the Cerulean Sea
This young adult fiction novel by author TJ Klune, an award-winning author who grew up in rural Douglas County, explores the power of belonging and the joy of inclusive community. Through fantasy and the world of magical youth living on an enchanted island, Klune celebrates children's differences and shows the positive effects of giving children a safe and supportive place to be themselves. Youth and adults alike will enjoy this heartwarming story of kindness.
Jen.exit71
Review posted February 28, 2023
Whimsical and heartwarming A very good read
chandler1979
Review posted February 23, 2023
This was one of the best books I’ve read in a while! I absolutely loved it! Such a feel-good read about inclusivity, diversity, and loving people for who they are. I had a really hard time putting the book down and finished it in about a week. Now I’m sad it’s over so soon! Very heartwarming :)
MorganCottle
Review posted February 23, 2023
Charming setting set with quirky characters. If we ever need a sweet-laced story, now is the time. Heartwarming and diverse. A way to share a fantasy that is lovable.
sweety95838
Review posted February 21, 2023
a wonderful off-beat love story a nice quiet read with magic with lots of adventures and imagination
Smnoodle
Review posted January 26, 2023
Such a good book. Highly recommended.
smeier
Review posted January 22, 2023
This was an amazing book. The imagery was beautiful and the characters were believable. I appreciated the real world issues being addressed with magic and fairytale. It made it fun and meaningful.
myersa
Review posted January 19, 2023
A very feel good comfort book even though it highlights some prevalent social issues that can cause a lot of discomfort. Overall a book that anyone should be able to connect with and I will be recommending to anyone who listens.
kconraads
Review posted January 4, 2023
Well written, easy read for an advanced reader but also would work for a slightly younger audience with support. Great book for middle school aged kids, lots of lessons easy to notice and find meaning in.
tkwilson
Review posted January 4, 2023
Social workers? A weird house, lots of colors, and magic? Oh yeah, can't wait to read this book!
kstoner
Review posted December 29, 2022
I loved this book! The characters are so good and the relationship that builds between them is truly beautiful. The story is very sweet and definitely gives you warm fuzzy feelings!:)
Victoria_Gilbreth
Review posted December 27, 2022
This was the first novel I had read from TJ Klune and I loved it! There were so many twists and turns that kept me reading. The anti-hero Linus quickly became my favorite character and I appreciated how it related to political issues within our own world. Definitely my favorite book I've read this year and I would definitely recommend!
jessicael2000
Review posted December 23, 2022
This was a wonderful book that rekindled my joy of reading whenever possible. It covers getting out of your comfort zone, and discovering that things (and people) may not be as they first seem. I loved it. A few minor comments pulled me back into a cynical and skeptical reality, such as the potential for commercial interests to prevail over prejudice, but what predominated in the book were pure adventure, creativity and enjoyment.
nonirose
Review posted December 18, 2022
Not sure where to begin about the book and my thoughts. The book is about an orphanage for magical children, and bureaucracy. It's a mix of pleasure, comedy, romance (just a little), and uncomfortable meetings with others. It does seem real though using fairy tale (knomes exist.) This is more of a young adult read and rather predictable. It seems to read of a fable and leaves more questions than answers, almost needing a sequel.
KendraSchroeder
Review posted December 13, 2022
This was a heart-warming read that spoke to the power of inclusion and acceptance. I enjoyed it!
cdshrack
Review posted December 2, 2022
This is a great exploration of stereotypes, fears, and our bureaucratic desire to impose order. I found it beautiful and touching and have recommended it to most everyone I know, and I don’t recommend books too often, and definitely not the same book to so many different people.
gabriels1bb
Review posted October 24, 2022
Great book to read to my teenagers. I know it seems silly but we like to read together and they listen while I read out loud. We are from this area that inspired the writer so it was pretty cool to use our own imagination with them.
brittanydanelle
Review posted October 11, 2022
A truly fantastic fantastical journey, weaving many important themes of love and hope together. I grew to love every character, with their humorous quirks and unique stories of growth and resilience. In the end, we all just want to find acceptance and connection, within ourselves and with others.
Jdecerrini
Review posted October 4, 2022
This was a well-paced journey with characters of surprising depth… an apt metaphor for today’s world that is not lost on adult readers. A delight.
Marieflores2989
Review posted October 3, 2022
Such a beautiful book and will always be one of my favorites. It’s a feel-good book, but many lessons taught throughout about inclusivity and loving one another for who we truly are. I will always recommend this book! Wonderful author.
vbeskow
Review posted September 27, 2022
This book surprised me. It started off slow and formal. What was great about this book was the characters seemed to always say the right thing in the moment. Overall, great book.
bmoss7580
Review posted September 23, 2022
An engaging read that celebrates belonging.
Breerenee87
Review posted September 3, 2022
Book was an incredible, inspiring story.
cdorrahs
Review posted September 1, 2022
Such a delightful book!
arbusch
Review posted August 22, 2022
Love this book. Such a great story with an inspiring message. One of my favorites I read this year.
Mollie
Review posted August 19, 2022
Absolutely loved it! Quickly characters, a fun storyline, and a great message.
Pacnw_jen
Review posted August 14, 2022
What a magical book, such a nice escape from reality.
Penny McDermott
Review posted August 14, 2022
A 'by the books' case worker for magical children is sent on a special assignment to a remote orphanage on an island. Linus Baker loves rules and takes pride in the idea that it is his job to save children with special magical needs from cruel and dangerous homes. The denouement is the process of Linus' growth as he sees the Department in Charge of Magical Youth as a system that treats magical children as second-class citizens. As Linus spends more time with Arthur and the kids, he starts to stand up to a world that would shun them for being different, and develops a romance with Arthur. The clan roots for each other. "The things that we fear the most are often the things we should fear the least. It's irrational, but it's what makes us human. And if we're able to conquer those fears, then there is nothing we're not capable of." "He's right. You can do it." "You're make of strong stuff on the inside, and it's what on the inside that counts." "My insides are rotted and festering like an infected wound leaking pus." "It's the little things. Little treasure we find without knowing their origin, and they come when we least expect them. It's beautiful, when you think about it." This book builds empathy and awareness to prejudice and intolerance. It's well done!
maabaaj
Review posted August 12, 2022
This was one of the best books I’ve read! It will stick with me for a very long time to come. I truly grew to love the characters (very quickly, I might add) and miss them already. I will recommended this book to everyone I can!
Vivian
Review posted August 12, 2022
Not much of a fantasy reader, but this sweet fairy tale was a delightful read.
stokesfolks
Review posted August 3, 2022
This book teaches people that it's important to accept everyone even though we all have differences. All should be included. No one is broken. All are welcome here.
kchristensen17
Review posted July 27, 2022
The House in the Cerulean Sea…What a wonderful story about finding yourself, your courage, and your home. TJ Klune does a great job pulling the reader in and making them truly care for these characters. With beautiful descriptions this book creates exquisite scenes in the mind.
jackharden6
Review posted July 27, 2022
This book was amazing! Heartwarming and surprising, I would recommend to any ages :)
ashleyjohnsonbend
Review posted July 21, 2022
beautifully written, already used this story with the children i work with.
Lovetoread
Review posted July 20, 2022
When I began reading I wasn't sure it was going to be a book I would like. I am now halfway through and then enjoying the whimsical and magical imagination of the author and intrigued by the lessons I'm learning regarding those who are different. It's now hard to put down to see what the future holds for Linus Baker and all the other characters.
jennynunn
Review posted July 20, 2022
So good we could hardly put it down! It was perfect time for pride month!
sarahsketti
Review posted July 10, 2022
Really enjoyed it!
nitahalstead
Review posted July 7, 2022
This is a delightful little novel with well-explored characters and lots if nice life lessons mixed in. Highly recommend for a fun weekend read!
dvorakan
Review posted June 26, 2022
Love being able to get access to books like this one and then share them with others!
LRoundy
Review posted June 14, 2022
This book was an interesting and engaging read. The characters, setting, and writing style are all superb. Highly recommend.
[email protected]
Review posted June 5, 2022
This is a sweet book with a good message. A fun read for adult readers, this is an important book in the young adult category with a broad message about acceptance and a comfortable way of introducing gay characters.
lromero100
Review posted May 28, 2022
This was such a warm and comforting book. In such difficult times, it was nice to read something so lovely and full of meaning.
Lorax2675
Review posted May 26, 2022
such a beautiful love story.
[email protected]
Review posted May 22, 2022
This story is funny and amusing for both myself and my 13 year old. Enjoyed it.
KHall
Review posted May 16, 2022
very enjoyable.
Shannon Richardson
Review posted May 11, 2022
The House in the Cerulean Sea was an unexpected pleasure. The storytelling is lyrical and well-paced, with character development that is inconsistent in the best way. Some characters get more and some get less, but it all fits together well as each character gets some level of insight. It feels like meeting a group of people who share different levels of openness with you, the reader. The fantasy elements are believeable and supported by the way in which characters engage with their narratives, both real and created. This is a story of bravery, in its different forms, of love and acceptance, and it embraces its cast in all of their bearded, winged, tentacled, rotund and barefooted glory. It's quirky and imperfect and when I was done reading, it stayed with me for several days, as though I'd recently left a shared journey.
vireogirl
Review posted May 1, 2022
A beautiful, magical world, with a slow growing understanding of fighting for those who are different. Starts in a gray, dull society that explodes with color as love and purpose are discovered. Snarky humor; even the cat has personality.
Firechild94
Review posted April 30, 2022
This book was a definite page turner. I couldn't put it down and felt sucked into the story.
Lynzy143
Review posted April 24, 2022
Fast and engaging read, exploring how we as a society handle those who are different and may scare us, as well as how we develop and embrace those differences within ourselves. Highly recommended!
[email protected]
Review posted April 5, 2022
I love this book!