This was a wonderful book about how elementary and middle-grade kids deal with loss and change, especially among friends. You will, of course, learn more than a thing or two about jellyfish, but most importantly how beautifully complicated life can be when facing the unexplained.
The Thing About Jellyfish
By Ali Benjamin
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 4 - 8 | Grades 3 - 8 | Y | 5 | 46150 |
This stunning debut novel about grief and wonder was an instant New York Times bestseller and captured widespread critical acclaim, including selection as a 2015 National Book Award finalist! Oddlot Entertainment has acquired the screen rights to The Thing About Jellyfish, with Gigi Pritzker set to produce with Bruna Papandrea and Reese Witherspoon.
After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy must have been a rare jellyfish sting-things don't just happen for no reason. Retreating into a silent world of imagination, she crafts a plan to prove her theory--even if it means traveling the globe, alone. Suzy's achingly heartfelt journey explores life, death, the astonishing wonder of the universe...and the potential for love and hope right next door.
After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy must have been a rare jellyfish sting-things don't just happen for no reason. Retreating into a silent world of imagination, she crafts a plan to prove her theory--even if it means traveling the globe, alone. Suzy's achingly heartfelt journey explores life, death, the astonishing wonder of the universe...and the potential for love and hope right next door.
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN-13: 9781509821341
ISBN-10: 1509821341
Published on 10/22/2015
Binding: Hardcover
Book Reviews (71)
The Thing About Jellyfish is one of the most AMAZING BOOKS EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Suzy struggles after her best friends dies because she believes that things don't just happen. Suzy believes Fann
I just finished this book and it was very touching. I think the story line was unique in how Suzy tries to prove her own idea of how her best friend died and how it was her way of coping with the death of her friend. The book was really sad and I don't know what else to say, but you should read it.
This book touched me. A shy, average girl named Suzy won't say a word. Not to her few friends, not to her family. After her best friend Franny died in a supposed drowning at sea in Maryland, Suzy becomes fascinated with jellyfish. It's been her main focus ever since she stopped talking. Suzy starts to wonder if Franny's death has anything to do with a lethal jellyfish. I mean, come on. She drowned?? Suzy knows better than anyone how Franny is a fantastic swimmer. So Suzy devises a plan to travel to Australia to prove her hunch. 'The Thing About Jellyfish' made me laugh, feel frustrated with the characters, and sometimes even made me feel like crying. That's how good the author and the story were. I love love love this book, 5 stars of course!!
This was a pretty good book. It show the concepts of friendship and blame as young Suzy tries to convince her mom and herself that her best friend Franny was killed by a unique jellyfish. After Franny was drowned on a trip to the beach, Suzy refuses to believe it was just by accident. After visiting an aquarium, Suzy is determined that Franny had been stung. But all along the story she feels an internal guilt. . .this story jumps back and forth from Suzy's research on the jellyfish and he time with Franny before her death. The interesting way the story advance keeps the reading focused on the story and after the last pages you will remember Suzy story.
I LOVED this book!!! Its about a girl who doesn't talk anymore because her friend died in a mysterious accident, which she blames herself for. Instead of talking she thinks constantly to herself about things. She has such a logical way of thinking tho. I loved her inspiring story and it helped me a lot.
The narrator loses her best, and only, friend in the first few pages of the book. She shuts out the world and becomes obsessed with figuring out the how the best swimmer she'd ever known, drowned. The character is really unusual, but her experience of loss was so honest; it was incredibly relatable. It's a sad story with lots of beautiful moments. I loved it.
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It is an amazing book.
This book is sad, but an amazing read! The book starts in Suzy Swason's present and excerpts from Suzy's past are sprinkled throughout the book. The first story from suzy's past is a recent one, telling of the death of her best friend Franny Jackson. The stories of Suzy's past then go on to show the progression of Suzy's relationship with Franny: they are quick to become friends, but as they grow older Franny changes. She begins to care more about what others think and is ashamed of Suzy because Suzy is, well, "weird". The affects of peer pressure cause Franny to be mean to Suzy, just like everyone else. Suzy tries to tell her this, but in a way that did more damage than help and their relationship ends in a terrible, unrevesable state. Meanwhile Suzy has gone mute to mourn Franny's death, which she blames on a jellyfish sting. By the end of the book Suzy is able to make new friends and start a new chapter of her life. A chapter where she can try her hardest to forgive both herself and Franny for the way their friendship ended and remember the best of the amazing friend she lost.
this book is so touching! It warms you to your heart! Suzy is convinced that after her best friend,Franny, dies from drowning, she needs to find out why. She comes up with one idea;Franny was stung by a very poisionous jellyfish. When Suzy decides to travel across the globe to find the answers,alone. but, sometimes, the answer is just next door.