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Ali Benjamin

The Thing About Jellyfish (National Book Award Finalist) Hardcover – September 22, 2015

by Ali Benjamin (Author)

4.5 2,567 ratings

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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!

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.

Oddlot Entertainment has acquired the screen rights to The Thing About Jellyfish, with Gigi Pritzker set to produce with Bruna Papandrea and Reese Witherspoon.

Reading age

10 - 12 years, from customers
Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Grade level

5 and up
Lexile measure

740L
Dimensions

5.5 x 1.13 x 8 inches
Publisher

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date

September 22, 2015
ISBN-10

0316380865
ISBN-13

978-0316380867
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–7—Suzy's best friend, Franny Jackson, was a strong swimmer. There is no way she could have drowned, at least in Suzy's mind. Suzy's determined search for a different explanation for her friend's death leads her to believe that Franny was stung by an Irukandji jellyfish. Having nothing but time, since she has no other friends and has decided to stop talking, Suzy sets out to prove her theory. This multilayered novel takes readers on several concurrent emotional journeys. Benjamin skillfully blends time and narrative to slowly reveal truths about Suzy: first and foremost that their friendship was over long before Franny's death. The girl she had once thought was her best friend decided it was time for a middle school social upgrade, choosing popularity over her awkward childhood pal. Suzy's decision to seek revenge and remind Franny of their bond backfires, destroying what was left of their relationship. Consequently, Franny's death is the impetus for the protagonist's mission of personal reconciliation for the guilt and regret she feels over their falling out. Suzy's fierce intelligence, compounded by her painful transition into adolescence, makes her a sympathetic and compelling character. Benjamin's sense of timing and delivery is extraordinary, as she blends the visceral experiences of Suzy's journey with an internal dialogue that is authentic and poignant. Though Suzy herself is oddly unique in her self-imposed social ineptitude and singular focus, the politics of friendships and changing values of young teens will resonate with readers. Benjamin's inverse approach to tragedy, placing the death at the beginning of the novel and storytelling through the grieving process, transcends the trope, as the story triumphs in the affecting realities of emotional response and resilience. VERDICT Strong readers of middle grade realistic fiction will fully immerse themselves in this superbly written, heartfelt novel.—Juliet Morefield, Multnomah County Library, OR

Review

*"A painful story smartly told, Benjamin's first solo novel has appeal well beyond a middle school audience."

―Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*"Reminiscent of works by Jennifer L. Holm and Sharon Creech, Benjamin's novel is a shining example of the highs and lows of early adolescence."―Publishers Weekly, starred review

*"Benjamin's sense of timing and delivery is extraordinary, as she blends the visceral experiences of Suzy's journey with an internal dialogue that is authentic and poignant....readers...will fully immerse themselves in this superbly written, heartfelt novel."―School Library Journal, starred review

*"Benjamin's involving novel features clean, fluid writing that is highly accessible, yet rich with possibilities for discussion.... Her highly individual, first-person narrative makes compelling reading.... An uncommonly fine first novel."―Booklist, starred review

*"This novel has it all: just-right pacing, authentic voices and characters, beautifully crafted plot, and superb writing. Readers will find that this story lingers with them after the book is closed."―VOYA, starred review

"There are...a lot of children who might not only benefit from this book but also find themselves deeply moved by it."―New York Times Book Review

"Seventh-grade narrator Suzy Swanson will win readers' hearts as she silently struggles to come to terms with her complex emotions over the death of her former best friend."―Shelf Awareness

"A heartfelt read for kids and adults."
―First for Women Magazine

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 22, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316380865
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316380867
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10 - 12 years, from customers
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 740L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 5 and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.13 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #492,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #515 in Children's Books on Death & Dying
- #4,292 in Children's Books on Emotions & Feelings (Books)
- #7,994 in Children's Friendship Books

Customer Reviews:
4.5 2,567 ratings

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About the authors

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Ali Benjamin
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Ali Benjamin schrieb als erfolgreiche Co-Autorin für Kollegen und als Redakteurin für Zeitschriften, Zeitungen und Online-Medien. Heute schreibt sie eigene Kinder- und Jugendbücher und lebt mit ihrem Mann und zwei Kindern in Massachusetts.
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Ali Benjamin
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Ali Benjamin is the author of The Smash-Up, which is her adult fiction debut. She also wrote The Thing About Jellyfish, an international bestseller and a National Book Award finalist. Her The Next Great Paulie Fink was named a top children’s book of the year by Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, the New York Public Library, and the Los Angeles Public Library. Her work has been published in more than twenty-five languages in more than thirty countries. Originally from the New York City area, she now lives in Massachusetts. This is her first adult novel.
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

2,567 global ratings

5 star		69%
4 star		21%
3 star		7%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Ruth Deaton

Beautiful

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 24, 2023

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Beautiful book, I love the facts about jellyfish. Amazing and creative story

Helpful

Sy Love

Suzy and Franny are best friends. There’s a popular girl named

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 17, 2016

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The Thing about Jellyfish, is a novel by Ali Benjamin. This book shows a relationship between two friends that always stick together, but while this book goes on they go on separate paths. A quote that goes through this book is: “Sometimes things just happen,” but Suzy doesn’t want to look at it this way, especially after the tragic that happened. This book will target someone who likes mysteries and The Thing about Jellyfish is a book with a mystery that you would really want to know more about.
Suzy and Franny are best friends. There’s a popular girl named, Aubrey that Franny never wants to be like: “Shoot me if I ever become like that. Send me a signal… a secret message. Make it big.” As Franny once said to Suzy. One day Franny did become like Aubrey and Suzy tried to fix it and make that “secret message,” but it didn’t work. Franny got new best friends and is becoming the opposite of the way she really is. Suzy grows and learns new thing every day and going from not talking to talking again little by little. That’s the way the author develops Suzy’s character. Franny grows somewhat negatively and goes on opposite roads with Suzy: ”Why do you have to be so weird ?” Franny hisses. ”Your just.So.Weird.” Franny says, and you turn around and storm out of the cafeteria and the other girls follow.” .It’s always important to keep your close friends by your side, because friends come and go, but if you hold on tight they’ll stay with you.
The author shows how friends are important to stay by, for an example, Suzy and Franny are good friends, but they don’t go down the same paths. Franny goes down a road with her new friends and Suzy goes down a road with learning and discovering out the tragic drowning of her best friend that is not by her side anymore. The message that the author is trying to shout out is, to always keep your true friends by your side and don’t let go.
This book is written in an interesting way, that the author back flashes in her writing, that it’s like Suzy is talking with Franny even though she’s not directly there, and the author is doing it like a memory is coming to Suzy’s brain. I really like the way Ali Benjamin writes this book, and how the book is structured. The book is an easy read and it’s a great story as well to how it’s written. “Tiny species, move through an invisible field, the way a pair of boots moves through mud, getting heavier as they go.” This imagery is showing that, things drift away and it’s hard to handle.
The Thing about Jellyfish, is a great read. What is good about this book is the way the characters grow and it shows lots of character development and it’s a great thing. The way Suzy grew throughout the book was amazing. She went from not talking to talking step-by-step and showing her inner voice. This book is a great mystery that needs to be answered and is an amazing book to read and to enjoy!
“Sometimes when we feel most alone, the world decides to open up in magical ways.”-Ali Benjamin.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

nabil

The Thing about Jellyfish Overview

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 30, 2019

Verified Purchase

The realistic fiction book, The Thing About Jellyfish, by Ali Benjamin, is a novel about a girl named Suzy who can't understand or put together how her friend Franny dies. Suzy is not like other girls, she doesn't spend time fixing her hair, doing her nails, or have a care in the world about boys. When middle school starts, she starts to see changes happening, the innocent girl she knew now was spending time with the mean girls, as well as criticizing her looks and behavior. Suzy was intelligent and new more than others, she was seen as weird but it didn’t affect her until her formally best friend Franny had now changed for the worst.

One day Suzy went to go sit with the cool kids because Franny wanted to sit there. Suzy felt annoyed because she wanted to just sit with Franny, like it had been in the past. Franny is not very social and does not pick up general social cues, it’s not clarified in the book but she may even be on the autism spectrum. When she made her opinion on another girls comment, she started talking about urine. As she talked, the other girls laughed and thought she was strange. She knew so many facts about urine, but Suzy didn’t understand why that was funny or why it was the wrong thing to say.

Suzy decides to stop talking altogether once she got the news that Franny died, her parents thought that there was something wrong with her. Suzy decided to stop talking, she didn’t think there was anything positive to talk about. She couldn’t comprehend that Franny had drowned, she thought that there must be some deeper reason. She started to do research and came up with a theory that Franny was stung by an Irukandji jellyfish. She did lots of research and thought that a researcher named Jamie could get her all the answers that she needed.

Overall, The Thing About Jellyfish was a great book, I would recommend it to anyone above the age of ten. It is not too short and not too long, and it has the perfect amount of suspension. It may have taken a long time to understand the main idea, but it was an inspiring book with a wonderful story.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Natty J

Thought provoking

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 4, 2022

Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed this book and you can tell an awful lot of research has gone in to creating it which made it all the more interesting.

In places the book is quite referencing and I felt the anxiety of school and the rest of not being liked and the awfulness of losing friendships. I really want to read more from this author and would recommend this book as a nice light read.

Kindle Customer

Amazon book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 1, 2020

Verified Purchase

This book was so well though out and I loved how it was written. I learned lots from this book, not just about jellyfish, but even stuff about humans and made me think about all the people in my life who are like Suzy. I recommend this book to 9 year olds and above, just because there are some moments that younger children could find a bit sad and disturbing. Overall, this is a great book and I really recommend reading this!

Peaches

A beautiful & sad story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 28, 2018

Verified Purchase

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had me laughing and weeping! Suzy, the narrator, is sweet, smart, socially-awkward and absolutely endearing. It's a beautiful story of friendship, growing up, grief and jellyfish. I absolutely loved it.

One person found this helpful

Peter R

A very good book I am glad I read.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 20, 2018

Verified Purchase

A very intriguing book. I'm glad that my granddaughter introduced me to it. It makes an adult think about the problems of a child growing up.

Maya

Such a precious book.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 14, 2016

Verified Purchase

An online friend recommended this to me, and it is a children's book - and I'm 34 - but I loved it! It's such a good teacher too, on life's big issues. Such a precious book.

One person found this helpful

See all reviews

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