Ali Benjamin

Now available in paperback, 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. Everyone says that it was an accident... that sometimes things "just happen". But Suzy won't believe it. Ever. After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy was a rare jellyfish sting. 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. *"An uncommonly fine first novel." -- Booklist, starred review *"Has appeal well beyond a middle school audience." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review *"Reminiscent of works by Jennifer L. Holm and Sharon Creech... a shining example of the highs and lows of early adolescence." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

The Thing About Jellyfish

Some hearts beat only about 412 million times. Which might sound like a lot. But the truth is, it barely even gets you twelve years. Suzy Swanson has always known things that others don't. She can explain the sleep patterns of ants. She knows there are 150 million jellyfish stings on the planet every year. She knows that the average middle school kid contains about 20 billion of Shakespeare's atoms. But she can't understand how Franny Jackson's lifetime could be cut so short ... before Suzy could make up for the worst thing she'd ever done to her friend. As Suzy retreats into a silent world of her imagination, she finds that the universe won't allow her escape into grief. Astonishing wonders are all around her ... as are the love and hope she desperately needs to forgive herself.

The thing about jellyfish

Chey

A person can become invisible simply by staying quiet.

First of all I somehow misunderstood the story and thought that the friend had committed suicide and that everyone was keeping it hidden from the main character, and that the main character was making this jellyfish hypothesis to try to make sense of her friend's death, so the last part was true 

I haven't read a children's book in a while, the way this book is written and told from Suzy's perspective is so beautiful written and I find it accurate to how a child can think and feel

I myself got flashbacks from my childhood while reading this book

It was very interesting to learn so many new things about the jellyfish, it's a species I didn't know much about before reading the book, I found especielly the facts about the immortal jellyfish and that if you cut a jellyfish in two it can turn into two jellyfishes instead of dying very incredible

There were some things I didn't understand, like why Suzy saw herself as the villain in her friend's story when all she did was care and help her.. that is sad

In the end Suzy learned to accept the death of her friend

I guess sometimes we believe if we can make sense of someone's death that it will be the solution to our grief, but that's not always the case

Lulu Evensen

First of all I somehow misunderstood the story and thought that the friend had committed suicide and that everyone was keeping it hidden from the main character, and that the main character was making this jellyfish hypothesis to try to make sense of her friend's death, so the last part was true 

I haven't read a children's book in a while, the way this book is written and told from Suzy's perspective is so beautiful written and I find it accurate to how a child can think and feel

I myself got flashbacks from my childhood while reading this book

It was very interesting to learn so many new things about the jellyfish, it's a species I didn't know much about before reading the book, I found especielly the facts about the immortal jellyfish and that if you cut a jellyfish in two it can turn into two jellyfishes instead of dying very incredible

There were some things I didn't understand, like why Suzy saw herself as the villain in her friend's story when all she did was care and help her.. that is sad

In the end Suzy learned to accept the death of her friend

I guess sometimes we believe if we can make sense of someone's death that it will be the solution to our grief, but that's not always the case

Sarah Sammis

There's something about jellyfish that inspire stories about death and social awkwardness.. See also Princess Jellyfish, Tome 1http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comm...

Melanie Knight

** spoiler alert **
           When 12 year old Suzy's friend, Franny, dies in the sea on holiday, Suzy can not accept that 'some things just happen'. She stops talking and, on a school trip to the aquarium, becomes convinced that Franny was stung by a jellyfish. She begins researching jellyfish, eventually deciding that she needs to go and visit an expert in Australia to find the answers that she is seeking. Along the way, she recounts the story of her friendship with Franny and eventually makes new friends. This is interspersed with amazing scientific facts and information and commentary about the value of silence and the importance of understanding and being understood. 
This was a really touching story about loss, growing up, family, science, feeling out of place and the universe. I read the whole book in one afternoon, being swept along by the need to find out whether Suzy would be able to find the explanation that would enable her to say goodbye to her friend.

Jenelle andersen

‘Maybe instead of feeling like a mote of dust, we can remember that all the creatures on this Earth are made from stardust.
And we are the only ones who get to know it.‘

Jeannette Ordas

An enjoyable real read. The growing pains of middle school years in this book felt real to me - when girlfriends change and turn mean and you don't quite know what's going on except that there are big changes afoot. A lovely, smart read.

Stef

Isabela H 

a m a z i n g 
I'm going to be really honest, I expected to cry the entire book because of the topics it dealt with, but the narrative was so gentle and hopeful that you could mourn along with Suzy without feeling overwhelmed by grief.

Jihad Mahmoud

I liked zu, how she was innocent and pure even though how things were bad with her, how her best friend turned on her and how badly how things ended between them! but I was happy how finally things got better with her!

Nadine 

#grief #selectivemute #research #inquiry #friendship - where do I start - there is so much going on in this book but it is still very beautiful and readable. 
I loved how each chapter starts with a phase of the scientific inquiry process. Then there is the back story of a friendship gone wrong as they go into their teens, and the story as it happens and the research into jellyfish. Every teachers dream book
Then there is the selective mutism. And what a wonderful rationalization she gives for a quieter existence and really listening.
Ages 10-13. Must read.

Yoomi

One of the best middle grade books I've read in a very long time. It doesn't shy away from the most painful things about middle school, growing up, feeling different, and loss. But at the same time, exemplifies strength and resilience in the main character, Suzy. Anyone who has tried to make sense of the things that "just happen" will be able to relate.

Brianna Brown

Suzy stopped talking after The Worst Thing happened. 

"If people were silent, they could hear the noise of their own lives better. If people were silent, it would make what they did say, whenever they chose to say it, more important. If people were silent, they could read one another's signals, the way underwater creatures flash lights at one another, or turn their skin different colors."

This story was one of the saddest I've read in awhile, but I couldn't put it down. Dealing with the loss of a friend, Suzy shut herself off verbally from the world. We learn about their friendship through flashbacks and follow Suzy as she tries to make sense of what happened to Franny, and tries to find her voice again.

Eloise

All I have to say about this book is that, despite having read it over and over again, I cry at the end every single time I read it. I love everything about this book and always have.

Stefie 

4.5 stars.
TW: bullying, death, drowning, a kid with divorced parents. 

I have to admit that when it comes to jellyfish, I am not a fan. It's one of the main reasons of why I never want to swim in the sea. This animals scares me. Hence when I saw this book, I wasn't sure whether I would like it or not. Turns out, I enjoyed it so much, and left with a feeling of awe towards this animal, especially the irukandji jellyfish :)

Pack with wonderful facts about jellyfish, a little bit about science, makes this book is even lovelier. I like how the author knows how to knit both facts and fiction into one beautiful stories, told in a simple but meaningful one. I also love how our main character, Suzy, is believable and real. 

Suzy is an almost 12 years old girl, who no longer want to speak after she lost her best friend, Franny, because of drowning accident. Suzy won't believe it because Franny is a great swimmer. So, she convinced that Franny is drowning because of the sting of jellyfish. With a lot of effort and determination, she try to prove it that her assumption is true.
What I love about this book is that, the story goes deeper than just jellyfish and Suzy assumption. It is a lot about Suzy's way of grieving, it is about her inner thought and feeling and everything that she's facing on daily basis, since her best friend passed away. You get to read about Suzy, what she's been through and how she is dealing with it all. It is about trying to fit in, it is about finding your own way in life.

Leah 

lauratrebilcock

Natalie 

Callie Stull

Cat Josephson

Emma Mahoney

Julia

It's peculiar how no-words can be better than words. How silence can say more than noise, or a person's absence can occupy even more space than their presence did. Suzy is 12 when her best friend, Franny, drowns one summer at the beach. It takes two days for the news to reach Suzy, and it's not something that she can accept: Franny has always been a strong swimmer, from the day they met in swim class when they were just 5. How can someone all of a sudden, just no longer be there? Suzy realizes that they must have got it wrong: Franny didn't just drown - she was stung by a poisonous jellyfish. This makes a lot more sense to Suzy's logical mind than a random drowning - cause: a jellyfish sting; effect: death. Suzy's journey to acceptance is quiet - she resolves to either say something important, or say nothing at all. But it's also bursting with bittersweet humour, heart-breaking honesty, big ideas and small details.

The Thing About Jellyfish

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