It feels like every day is a race to the finish line. With everything going on, having the time to do what you want is rare and must be taken advantage of. Instead of escaping it all via social media, you should consider reading The House in the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune. Easy to find in the fantasy recommended section of the Wilton High School library, this is a book bursting with comedy and romance that will melt your heart.
The House follows forty-year-old Linus who lives in the city and works for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY). He visits orphanages that house magical kids and decides whether or not they are fit to stay open. Linus’s monotonous, miserable life gets flipped upside down when Extremely Upper Management chooses him for a highly classified job that entails traveling to an orphanage on an isolated island housing kids beyond his wildest dreams—or nightmares. Most shocking, however, isn’t the kids, but the master of the orphanage, Arthur Parnassus, who’s unlike anyone Linus has ever met. He finds himself stuck between the life he’s always wanted and the life he believes he belongs in. This book captures the choices we constantly face between desire and duty, possibility and reality.
While the plot is enjoyable, this book is really set apart by its characters. Each character has a lovable quirk that makes them instantly endearing; Chauncey wants nothing more than to be a bellhop, and Theodore has a fascination with buttons. The way characters interact with each other also never fails to make your heart melt. From Arthur complimenting Linus with the utmost sincerity to the protectiveness the children exhibit for each other, every interaction shows the love that characterizes the narrative. Throughout it all, even the most mischievous characters have a sense of purity and innocence that shows their caring nature, adding an aspect of complexity that makes you want to root for them all the more.
TJ Clune also uses the setting, character interactions, and even the letters exchanged between Linus and DICOMY to depict the different sides of Linus’ life, making his heart wrenching dilemma all the more apparent. In one place where he’s lived, it’s constantly raining, but in another, it’s constantly sunny, even when he’s unhappy. Clune uses this cliché both to prove a point in the traditional sense and turn it on its head. He basically announces with this choice of setting that Linus may be unhappy, yet his life is still wonderful. Clune also engineers little moments between characters, allowing connections to take root and then blossom. He also reveals glimpses of Linus’ inner thoughts through letters, a modern-day version of a soliloquy. Every part of the story works to paint a beautiful and intricate picture of Linus’s inner conflict, making for an interesting and engaging story.
TJ Clune has created a universe full of magic and love, with every interaction enough to make you lean forward in excitement. I recommend this book to everyone who loves a good book about love, found family, and, of course, magic—in more ways than one.
