Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is the hugely anticipated sequel to TJ Klune's The House in the Cerulean Sea, one of the best-loved and best-selling fantasy novels of the past decade.

A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.

Arthur Parnassus lives a good life, built on the ashes of a bad one. He’s the headmaster of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six magical and so-called dangerous children who live there.

Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. And he is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth; Zoe Chapelwhite, the island’s sprite; and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children.

But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve.

And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home—one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name Arthur worked so hard to protect his children from—Arthur knows they’re at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart.

Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur’s story.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it.

These book club questions are from the publisher, Macmillan, and were written by Amy Root Clements.

Book club questions for Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

What makes Linus and Arthur great parents? How does their love for each other enhance their ability to love their children? How does their approach to parenting compare to your experiences when you were growing up?

As you watched Jeanine Rowder grilling Arthur during the hearing, spurred by the dissolution of Extremely Upper Management, did any of her arguments sound familiar? When have you heard someone in power claim to be protecting children while they’re actually harming kids? What’s the real motivation that keeps Rowder and Harriet Marblemaw so hellbent on their mission?

Being magical often means being messy, from Chauncey’s inky mishaps to Theodore’s occasional bursts of green fire. As the eldest child, Sal is the old soul who keeps things from getting too messy. How does their family manage to stay playful while they’re facing so many serious problems?

In chapter 9, Arthur and Lucy discuss the unfairness of being labeled a monster and the murkiness of trying to find a truly objective understanding of morality. Without Arthur’s healing love, would Lucy have grown into someone who was harmful to others? What does Arthur teach us about breaking the cycle of trauma?

David excels at costumes and disguise. Which version of him is your favorite? Would you let him officiate at your wedding?

Rowder and Marblemaw’s rules are designed to keep others subservient and obedient. What does it take to overturn a system like that one?

The magic of Phee, as a forest sprite, and Talia, as a garden gnome, is rooted in the earth. How does their presence balance the household?

TJ Klune writes beautifully about transformations. As you watched Marsyas being transformed at the end of the novel (transforming even the sea itself, as a peninsula is formed), how did this reflect the new energy within each of the characters? In the closing pages of chapter 15, each member of the family receives a glowing orb of light in a color that displays their true self. Which color would suit you the best?

If you’ve read the first book in the Cerulean Chronicles, The House in the Cerulean Sea, what was it like to see Linus in his new life, with Arthur leading the charge once again to fight the DICOMY? How did you react to Zoe’s new role, with Helen at her side?

Hope is the thing with feathers, yes, and hope is the thing with fire. This luminous closing line captures the spirit of the phoenix, which provides an outlet for Arthur’s righteous anger. Which of your emotions would you most want to express through magic? What would that magic look like?

Somewhere Beyond the Sea Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the Somewhere Beyond the Sea discussion questions

A #1 NEW YORK TIMES, #1 USA TODAY and #1 INDIE BESTSELLER!

“An enchanting sequel about found family.” —The New York Times

“A heartwarming read about belonging, identity and found family, with plenty of laugh out loud moments along the way.” —NPR

“[A] heart-wrenching tale of being perceived as different, finding acceptance, and having a place in the world.” —Library Journal, starred review

“Klune’s sweet, satisfying sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea...bursts with charm, wit, and endearing scenes of magical found family, complete with timely messages on acceptance and fighting oppression. Fans will be gratified by this heartfelt return.” —Publishers Weekly

“[A] powerful story of self-determination and the importance of love.” —Booklist