The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune is simply the best book I’ve ever read! By the time I was 1/4 of the way into the library copy of it, I ordered my own copy from The Mockingbird Bookshop, because I knew it was going to be my new favorite book, and I would want to reread it and make my family and friends read it too!
I was first intrigued by the reviews describing it as a combination of The Umbrella Academy, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and Douglas Adams’s books. And the Shelf Awareness review that said, “Quite possibly the greatest feel-good story ever to involve the Antichrist.” They weren’t wrong.
Linus Baker is a by-the-book caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, trudging along through life, when he’s assigned to go out to an orphanage full of dangerous magical children to evaluate. He arrives nervous of what he might find, but grows to love this eclectic group of children and their headmaster. He gains the confidence to fiercely protect them and the special place that they’ve created.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting story of love and creating family where you are. This was the perfect heart-warming book for me to read in the year of Covid. If you enjoy quirky fantasy, you will love it too!
Review by Amanda Walden of the Children’s Department.
Click here to request a copy.
