Book review: The House in the Cerulean Sea

I picked up The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune on a friend's recommendation. The book follows Linus Baker as he encounters the residents of a residential home for magical children, and considers his role in their lives as a lowly government case worker.

The thing I loved most about this book was the drab depiction of soulless government work. Ten years ago I made a choice not to pursue a path that would have led to a career in casework that I always imagined would be just as the author depicted--dull buildings, thankless hours, and workers who either clung to the belief that they made a difference or checked out completely under the strain of low pay, long hours, and social systems that weren't built to allow anyone involved to thrive.

I enjoyed the love story and the forming of a family, and the magic that comes from accepting other people's imperfections while daring to show your own, and building a life in kindness.

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Audely Bensen Writes

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