“The House in the Cerulean Sea” made me immensely happy, giddy, and hopeful. The story is beautiful and the lessons are so important. It reminded me of Harry Potter and A Wrinkle in Time. It felt like an escape, but was rooted deeply in our world’s realities. Through a metaphor for acceptance and love and inclusivity, Klune brings to life a story about a stranger filled with misconceptions and prejudice and ‘a job to do’ entering a complex, but full family of 8. All the characters were so warm (I particularly loved Sal and Chauncey) and inspiring, and they made me laugh as much as they made me cry. A comfort book to say the least. My favorite quote, “You’re too precious to put into words. I think… it’s like one of Theodore’s buttons. If you asked him why he cared about them so, he would tell you it’s because they exist at all.”