He also learns that the village near the island and orphanage are paid to keep quiet, but still detest the orphanage and magical beings. When he arrives, he is greeted by Zoe Chapelwhite, who is actually an island sprite and protects Marsyas. Linus is told to stay for one month to observe the daily lives of the children. When Extremely Upper Management calls him, he is given a Classified Level 4 (he had only been given a Classified Level 3 once, which was an unfortunate incident), in what will probably be his most challenging task ever taking a trip to the Marsyas Orphanage, where six extraordinary children are kept by an equally extraordinary carettaker, Arthur Parnassus. He spends his work days overseeing the care of magical children in orphanages, and his nights listening to his old records. Linus Baker is a 40-year-old man who lives with his devious cat Calliope, and who works as a case-worker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY). I'm a bit old for it myself, but I think a lot of people need this kind of Disney-style optimism in the face of grueling adversity and I see no reason why they should be shamed for enjoying it, or a writer for providing it.The story was inspired by the Sixties Scoop, when young, Indigenous children were removed from their families by the Canadian government and sent to live with white, middle-class families. You could compare it to Roald Dahl, who's taken a lot of terrible, traumatic situations (living in extreme poverty in Charlie and the chocolate factory, neglectful/abusive parents in Mathilda, mistreated orphan in The BFG, tragic death of parents in The Witches…) and made them all better because suddenly something magical and wonderful happened. If you stop to think about it it's not a pleasant thought, but the premises of children's books – which is essentially what this is – are often not pleasant. The main parallel is the 'framework', in that a lot of the kids in the orphanages have been ripped away from their families to be placed under (often less-than-adequate) government care. The main parallel is the 'framework', in that a lot of the kids in the orphanages have been ri …more For heaven's sake, if you enjoy the book, read the book. Emily Van Coolput For heaven's sake, if you enjoy the book, read the book.

House on the cerulean sea