Unique, haunting premise
The House in the Cerulean Sea + Back to the Future + Groundhog Day + The Diary of Anne Frank
Jacob Portman grew up listening to his grandfather�s stories. Some were horrific, with his family being hunted by the Nazis. Some were fantastical, like the island of peculiar children where he went when he was saved. Peculiar, like the boy that had bees living inside of him. All had pictures to go with it. As he grows up, Jacob starts to think the photos are doctored and the stories are just stories. What will it take for him to believe?
I hear people use the phrase ââ?¬Å"felt like I was coming homeââ?¬Â? a lot. Thatââ?¬â?¢s the best way I can describe a lot of the books I reread. Thereââ?¬â?¢s something so comforting about the book--from the cover to the characters, and in this book, the photos. If you go to Ransomââ?¬â?¢s IG, he did a fantabulous live last Friday, where he gave us the original ideas (it was originally going to be an illustrated poetry book, like Amphigorey). Again, I canââ?¬â?¢t praise this book enough. Not only are the characters and world extremely well-fleshed out, but Ransom has done a totally unique thing by shaping his story around old vintage photos he found. Iââ?¬â?¢m extremely sad that just as Iââ?¬â?¢m coming back to the series, the final book comes out next month.
Buy this book for yourself or someone looking to get lost in time. If you�re twisted, get it for someone who says pictures are for kids� books.
