TJ Klune’s “The House in the Cerulean Sea” not only has a cover that depicts its stunning and beautiful location, but it’s also a really beautiful description of the struggles and joys of being different. Should one conform and learn to fit in? What are the limits of tolerance and acceptance? 

Believe it or not, the story takes place on a magical island populated by children who have been sent to the orphanage because they don’t fit in. Their magic comes in the guise of a wyvern (a mythical two-legged dragon) and an earth sprite; a roly-poly, bearded gnome girl; an extremely shy shape-shifting boy; and some others who might tickle your funny bone. 

As investigator Linus Baker from the Department in Charge of Magical Youth comes to understand, differences provide one with boundless learning opportunities, adventures, and plenty of love to go around.

A focus on the different peoples of our lands serves as Jennifer Raff’s theme in the new book, “Origins: A Genetic History of the Americas.” As a genetic anthropologist, she has spent her professional career so far studying the genomes of those who crossed the land bridge from Siberia into what is now Alaska. It’s an exploration of the Indigenous peoples who populate the North and South American continents. 

Questions act as bookends: When did the migrations begin and from where? How can Indigenous Mayans be linked to Arctic people in today’s world? What kinds of evidence are more valuable than others? Well! So many questions and so much information, it staggers the mind. 

Mitochondrial DNA only provides a matrilineal ancestry, while the nuclear genome is much more detailed. Clovis points, representative of stone technology, and burial mounds also provide clues to origins. DNA lab protocols are even more stringent than COVID, but one doesn’t want to contaminate ancient DNA. 

Raff writes for non-scientists and is mindful and respectful of Indigenous rites and sensibilities. Read this – it’ll open up your mind to all sorts of possibilities about our origins.