March Booked For Lunch

Library Journal calls The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune "a charming, funny tale about chosen family and finding your place in the world. It is sweet without being saccharine and heartwarming without being corny. Recommended to anyone in need of feel-good fiction."

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place and realizing that family is yours.

Regular and large-print copies are available now at the adult circulation desk. Digital editions are available for download using Libby. Join the discussion in person or online via Zoom, on Monday, March 24 at noon. Need the Zoom link? Register using our calendar or by email at RBrzozowski@cwmars.org.