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

 

Linus Baker lives a quiet life as a caseworker for DICOMY, the Department In Charge Of Magical Youth. In a world where magical beings are feared, Linus visits orphanages for magical children and makes sure that everything is under control. He wouldn't say that he's lonely, not exactly. After all, he has a cat.

One day, Linus's department unexpectedly assigns him a most important job: to visit the top-secret orphanage on Marsyas Island, where six extremely dangerous magical children live under the care of a man named Arthur Parnassus. Among these children are a secretive forest sprite, a shovel-happy garden gnome, an anxious Pomeranian shape-shifter, a wyvern, a blob creature of unknown origins, and the Antichrist.

As Linus grows unexpectedly close to the children, and to Arthur, he wonders whether his job is worth risking the happiness that these children have found on Maryas Island. And whether his place in the world is right for him after all.

This is a book built on characters, and honestly there is no better cast to play the part. Each of the children is so wonderfully well-rounded, a combination of adorable, hilarious, and yes, sometimes terrifying. And Linus and Arthur are just amazing. As a queer magical realist book, The House in the Cerulean Sea also has a great message about tolerance and kindness, but not in an overbearing or preachy way. This is a book full of love. Also, the cover.