The House in the Cerulean Sea

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book as I usually don't gravitate towards YA. But I found it gave me the same escape as a beach read. It was easy to read, drew me in, and had a positive message throughout the book.

At the heart of this novel is the importance of surrounding yourself with people who feel like family and finding a place where you belong.

The book starts with Linus Baker working for the magical youth department. He's sent to an orphanage to evaluate magical children and determine if they are dangerous enough to bring on the world's end. Linus is a sticker for the rules, so it's a daunting task as each child has a unique power and story. I fell in love with each one and would have difficulty picking my favorite.