The Thing About Jellyfish
| Company type | Children's novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Ali Benjamin |
| Products | Novel |
The Thing About Jellyfish is a 2015 novel for young readers written by Ali Benjamin, marking her first work of fiction.
Plot summary
The narrative centers on Suzy Swanson, who hypothesizes that her friend Franny Jackson's untimely death resulted from a jellyfish sting. As Suzy begins seventh grade at Eugene Field Middle School in South Grove, Massachusetts, she contemplates the gradual distance that grew between her and Franny during sixth grade, after Franny became part of a more popular group. Their friendship ended abruptly, and before they could mend their relationship, Franny passes away that summer. Motivated by this loss, Suzy immerses herself in studying jellyfish, confiding in her science teacher and contacting marine biologists to gather evidence supporting her belief about the cause of Franny’s death.
Development
Benjamin acknowledges that books such as The Secret Garden, Harriet the Spy, and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler significantly influenced her childhood reading experience. The inspiration for the novel partly arose from a visit to an aquarium and originated from an earlier concept involving a middle school girl and her sibling.
Jellyfish research
Suzy's theory about Franny’s demise links to Irukandji syndrome, a condition she learns about during a school trip to an aquarium, identified in the book’s end notes as the New England Aquarium. She identifies several actual jellyfish specialists who might provide insight:
- Dhugal Lindsay (Japan), noted also for his haiku poetry
- Diana Nyad (USA), who aborted several Cuba-to-Florida swims due to jellyfish stings
- Angel Yanagihara (USA), who conducted research on box jellyfish after surviving a near-fatal sting
- Jamie Seymour (Australia), who endured an Irukandji sting firsthand
Publication history
Reception
The novel received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which praised it as "an exemplary portrayal of the emotional fluctuations of early adolescence and an homage to the majesty of the natural world." In The New York Times, Jacqueline Kelly described it as "both heartfelt and captivating," emphasizing its capacity to profoundly affect and benefit young audiences.
Awards
The Thing About Jellyfish earned a nomination for the 2015 National Book Award and was recognized among the Best Books of 2015 by School Library Journal.
Adaptations
A stage version debuted at Berkeley Rep, running from February 1 through March 9, 2025.
In October 2015, Reese Witherspoon revealed that her production company, Pacific Standard Films, planned to adapt the book into a movie. By January 2017, OddLot Entertainment had secured screen rights with producers Gigi Pritzker, Bruna Papandrea, and Witherspoon involved. In March 2019, director Wanuri Kahiu was announced for the project, with Millie Bobby Brown cast as Suzy. There have been no further announcements regarding the film since 2019.
See also
- Goodbye Stranger, authored by Rebecca Stead
- Otherwise Known as Possum, written by Maria Laso