What is the house in the cerulean sea controversy?

The House in the Cerulean Sea is a novel written by TJ Klune, published in 2019. The story revolves around a gay man named Linus Baker, who works for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY) as a caseworker for magical children. In the story, Linus is tasked with investigating an orphanage located on a remote island, called the Marsyas Island Orphanage, which is home to six dangerous magical children who have been deemed as too dangerous to live amongst regular humans.

The controversy surrounding the book came from some readers who claimed that the novel portrays the magical children as oppressed minorities, and that the storyline contains elements of white saviorism. However, others argued that the story promotes acceptance and tolerance, while also condemning prejudice and discrimination.

Despite the controversy, the book has been widely praised for its beautiful prose, well-developed characters, and heartwarming story. It has won multiple awards, including the 2021 Hugo Award for Best Young Adult Book and the 2020 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy Novel.