The house in the cerulean sea discussion questions

Q: Is there a sequel to the house in the cerulean sea?

T.J. Klunes Under the Whispering Door shows a whimsical multistoried multicolored building on the cover, visually suggesting its a sequel to the beloved The House on the Cerulean Sea, which won such acclaim.

Klune

Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world. Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.

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What is the message of the house in the cerulean sea?
Is the house in the cerulean sea a good book club book?
Is there a sequel to the house in the cerulean sea?
What should I read if I like the house in cerulean sea?

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

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.

-Summary courtesy of Goodreads

Below are a sampling of our comments:

Enjoyable but amateurish
It seemed very young adult – extreme characterizations and big feelings with a gentle romance
I enjoyed it –it was well-intentioned
It was a little repetitive, but I enjoyed it
I loved it – it was a fun fantasy, warm and fuzzy, silly, different, inclusive, and we got a happy ending!
Linus was 40 years old and just coming of age
Once you discover your own voice, you can’t shut up!
Chauncey was the best, wanting to help people by being a bellhop and also to get tips
A lot of questions were never answered - what happened to all the parents of the children? Where did the button Linus gave to Theodore come from?

Please add any additional thoughts or comments you have about The House in the Cerulean Sea. We gave this title the codes PHI, HOME, MAG, CUL, YA, FEM, HRO, ELF, & INC and an average rating of 4.25.

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Let's talk about The House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune! Please rate the book, share your thoughts, ask or discuss the questions... On a scale of 1 to 5, what did you think of The House on the Cerulean Sea? Here are discussion questions from the ReadingGroupGuides website. https://readinggroupchoices.com/books/house-in-the-cerulean-sea/ Feel free to ponder the questions, use them as a jumping point or ignore them altogether. Really, this discussion thread is just to talk about the book. Discussion Questions 1. As an employee of DICOMY, Linus Baker works under very rigid rules and regulations (and that’s literally the name of the handbook he refers to quite often!). He’s constantly being monitored, yet he still manages to produce quality work. Why does he push through working under such pressure? And if you were in his shoes, would you be able to work under those conditions? 2. Linus is a very lonely man and prior to investigating the Marsyas Island Orphanage, his only friend and family is his aloof cat Calliope. While building a family and a home becomes important for Linus as the story progresses, why wasn’t this a priority in his past? Why is he so isolated as an adult, and do you think this can this be attributed to what his home life was like growing up? 3. This book is thoroughly endearing, and part of the reason is because of the children! They each have such unique and incredible powers. Whose magical abilities appeal to you most? If you were to choose your own magical powers, what would they be and why? 4. Linus and Lucy bond over their love of music, and artists such as The Everly Brothers, Sam Cooke, Bobby Darin, The Coasters, Little Richard, The Big Bopper, and Buddy Holly are frequently mentioned. Why is music such a large part of the story? What role does it play in the characters’ lives? 5. Let’s talk about Chauncey! He’s such a loveable and sweet character. It’s clear he wants to grow up and help people. While there are many professions in which people help others (like doctors or firefighters), what about the prospect of being a bellhop specifically entices him so much? 6. Each of the characters in this book have different fears to work through and conquer. Arthur fears for the safety and wellbeing of the children. Linus fears stepping out of his comfort zone and truly being seen. The villagers fear the magical powers the children possess—and that fear manifests into hate. Do you think the characters face their fears in beneficial ways? How do you deal with your fears? Do you feel you can relate to any of the characters’ ways of coping? 7. Body size is mentioned quite often throughout the book. Linus always attempts to shrink himself—both literally and figuratively. Can you explain the dichotomy between him being a larger person, yet seeming to take up little or no space? And how does size have an impact on the story overall? 8. Lucy suffers from terrible nightmares. He says that in these nightmares he has spiders on the brain. His night terrors are so bad that his bedroom is actually the closet off of Arthur’s room. Do you think Lucy sleeping so close to Arthur is a good idea, or does it prevent him from being more independent like the other children? Does it show favoritism in any way? Why does he suffer from such terrible nightmares? 9. The townspeople who live near the Marsyas Island live in fear of the six children in the orphanage. Why do you think that is? Where does prejudice come from? Why do people fear the unknown? 10. At the heart of the novel is the importance of surrounding yourself with people who feel like home and finding a place where you wholeheartedly belong. How do you personally define “home?” What are the essentials?

What is the message of the house in the cerulean sea?

In fact, the book revolves around protecting magical children who are different than the rest. “Different doesn't mean bad. Arthur says being different is sometimes better than being the same as everyone else.” At the heart of this idea is a hidden message in accepting people for who they are.

Is the house in the cerulean sea a good book club book?

This novel is such a great book club pick, especially for groups who like their magic surrounded by a big warm hug. The book is delightful and inviting, but it isn't simplistic. There's a lot of complexity to the characters and the plot drivers in this book.

Is there a sequel to the house in the cerulean sea?

T.J. Klune's Under the Whispering Door shows a whimsical multistoried multicolored building on the cover, visually suggesting it's a sequel to the beloved The House on the Cerulean Sea, which won such acclaim.