The house on the bluest sea
The house on the bluest sea -or The House on the Cerulean Sea, in its original English title— is an LGBT-oriented young adult fantasy novel written by award-winning American author TJ Klune. The work was first published on March 17, 2020 by the publishing label Tor, a division of Pan MacMillian. Upon its release, it became a best-seller in its country.
The novel It was positively reviewed by media such as the New York Times y The Washington Post, who rated it as one of the “Best Feel-Good Reads of 2020.” For his part, Publishers Weekly He said it was a "thought-provoking Orwellian fantasy." On April 27, 2022, it was translated into Spanish by Carlos Abreu Fetter and marketed by Crossbooks.
Synopsis of The house on the bluest sea
An ordinary man embarks on an amazing journey
Linus Baker is a quiet, solitary man who works tirelessly for the Department of Young Magicians. He has never considered himself a hero, he just does his job and supports underprivileged children, although he does not get emotionally involved with them either. However, one day, the High Management calls him to supervise an orphanage of which there are almost no records.
That is how Linus is sent to Marsyas Island, where six children with extraordinary powers live.These are: a gnome, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a Pomeranian man, a goblin, and little Lucy. Morningstar, feared for having in their hands the supposed ability to bring about the end of times. Each of them is an outcast for the Government.
Beyond appearances and prejudices
After some surprises, Linus leaves next to his bitter cat Towards the island. There, little by little, begins to discover that children —who are kept away from the rest of the world, in a system that encourages them to never speak up and feel guilty about their differences— They are still little creatures that need love., care, compassion, education and respect.
Performer —accustomed to his life in solitude, to following the rules in a world framed by neatness, bureaucracy and limits— finds a hidden truth behind the little eyes of his new friends and his caretaker, Arthur Parnasus. The latter teaches Linus the meaning of having a family and how essential adult guidance is when it comes to shaping the character of a minor.
Fantasy as a literary excuse
TJ Klune is one of those authors who, during his career, has been dedicated to promoting spaces for very specific topics. In this case: the visibility of the LGTBI community and people with neurodivergences, such as ADHD. As a result of this need, the characters of The house on the bluest sea They exhibit both physical and emotional characteristics that represent these traits.
An example of what was mentioned in the previous paragraph is the relationship between Linus and Arthur. This It could be classified as romantic, although not explicitly. —as is often the case in young adult fantasy of recent times—, but rather as the iconography of a loving family that, at the same time, produces empathy in the reader. All the actors have that kind of weakness that makes them human.
Narrative style of the work
TJ Klune's style is simple yet poignant. Through a warm and accessible tone, The writer creates a world full of magic, humor and, above all, sensitivity.. Its skill in blending fantasy elements with contemporary social issues makes it relatable to readers of all ages, but particularly to those looking for a story that touches the heart.
Klune also has a knack for creating endearing characters. Linus is a protagonist many can relate to: someone who has let fear and routine define his life. The children, despite their magical characteristics, are portrayed with a humanity and depth that makes it impossible not to love them. And Arthur, as a fatherly and protective figure, is a model of unconditional love and acceptance.
Criticism and controversy of The house on the bluest sea
Outside of the literary aspects of the novel, TJ Klune has received criticism regarding the story on which he decided to base his work, being none other than the Sixties Scoop, or "The Extraction of the Sixties" in its translation into Spanish. At that time, more than 60 children belonging to Aboriginal reserves in Canada were separated from their families and taken to live with white people.
This cultural genocide that led so many children to lose their indigenous identity spread to the United States and some European countries. Later, The case was filed in the Criminal Court of Canada, where lawyers and victims asked for an immunization of $85.000 each, something that the Government refuses to recognize, claiming that they did it "in favor of the children."
On the other hand, The criticism of TJ Klune's novel has to do with the fact that, despite the lawsuits — as well as the damages suffered by those children — The author constructed a story where the white man presents himself as the savior of the plot, as well as a defender of the social rights of the youngest. However, it remains to be seen how positive this position is.
About the Author
Travis John Klune was born on May 20, 1982, in Roseburg, United States. His passion for letters was demonstrated from his earliest childhood., when I enjoyed creating alternative stories of Metroid, his favorite action-adventure video game. At the same time, his parents and teachers encouraged this growing love, leading the author to create original plots.
Inspired by writers such as Stephen King, Wilson Rawls, Patricia Nell Warren, Robert McCammon and Terry Pratchett, worked hard to publish her first novel. It was published in 2011, and was soon received as a phenomenon, positioning Klune as a young promise of literature. In 2021, The house on the bluest sea won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award.
Other books by TJ Klune
Series The Seafare Chronicles
- Bear, Otter, and the Kid — Two Men and a Boy (2011);
- Who we are (2012);
- The Art of Breathing (2014);
- The Long and Winding Road (2017)
Series Elementally Evolved
- Burn Energy Drink (2012)
Series At First Sight
- Tell Me It's Real (2013);
- The Queen & the Homo Jock King (2016);
- Until You (2017);
- Why We Fight (2019)
Series Tales From Verania
- The Lightning Struck Heart (2015);
- A Destiny of Dragons (2017);
- The Consumption of Magic (2017);
- A Wish Upon the Stars (2018);
- Fairytales From Verania (2021);
- The Damning Stone (2022)
Series How To Be
- How To Be A Normal Person (2015);
- How To Be a Movie Star (2019)
Series Green Creek
- The Wolf's Song (2016);
- The Raven's Song (2018);
- The Song of the Heart (2019);
- The Brothers' Song (2020)
Series Immemorial Year
- Whitered Sere (2016);
- Crisped Sere (2016)
Series The Extraordinaries
- The Extraordinaries (2019);
- Flash fire (2021);
- Heat Wave (2022)
Series Independent novels
- Into This River I Drown (2013);
- John & Jackie (2014);
- murmuration (2016);
- Olive juice (2017);
- The Bones Beneath My Skin (2018);
- Under the Whispering Door (2021);
- In the Lives of Puppets (2023)