This needs to be made into an animated film immediately!

This is now my third TJ Klune book, and I’m repeatedly struck at how Klune is able to transform what first feels like a children’s tale into a deep and endearing story to rekindle a sense of childish wonder in adult readers.

Much like “The House in the Cerulean Sea” and “Under the Whispering Door”, this novel is filled with an aching, clawing grief from its protagonist that is again successfully utilized as a springboard for hope and possibility. The grief is grown-up and wise, and it’s heartbreaking in this novel to see a young adult embodying it so deeply.

Shoutout to Rambo and Nurse Ratched for being one of the best sidekick duos ever to spring from a page.

I also heartily appreciate Chris Sickels’ artwork for each of Klune’s standalone adult novels, and I’m happy to read that Klune wants Chris to continue doing all his cover artwork going forward!

I’m sure there are elements of the plot that feel unfinished or forgotten, but Klune’s acknowledgements at the end hint at a story he wanted to tell that remained untold for unnamed reasons. Here’s to hoping that Klune can someday tell the story that seems so personally important for him to create and share.