The Thing About Jellyfish

The book follows Suzy Swanson, the protagonist and narrator, who theorizes the death of her friend, Franny Jackson, was caused by a jellyfish sting. Suzy has started the seventh grade, which is the second year at Eugene Field Middle School in South Grove, Massachusetts. During their sixth grade year, Franny became interested in boys and started to join a more popular social circle than the sometimes awkward Suzy, who had been best friends with Franny starting shortly after they met, when they were both five years old. After the two had a falling out in the sixth grade year, Franny died during the ensuing summer before they had a chance to heal their friendship. Suzy discovers a ton more about jellyfish than she expected she would, and confides in her science teacher, who helps her form her theory. Suzy also reads about brave and daring scientists who study jellyfish, and tries to get in contact with them, to work as a team to try and prove her theory about Franny's death.

Benjamin cites The Secret Garden, Harriet the Spy, and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler as shaping her reading life as a child. The Thing About Jellyfish was inspired in part by a trip Benjamin took to an aquarium, and influenced a novel she had been developing about a girl in middle school and her sibling.{{cite web | last=Burnett | first=Matia | title=Fall 2015 Flying Starts: Ali Benjamin | website=PublishersWeekly.com | date=2015-12-11 | url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/68941-fall-2015-flying-starts-ali-benjamin.html | access-date=2016-03-09}}

Suzy postulates that Franny's death was the result of Irukandji syndrome after Suzy learns about jellyfish on a field trip to an unnamed aquarium, which Benjamin states is the New England Aquarium in the end notes.{{cite book|url=https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/ali-benjamin/the-thing-about-jellyfish/9780316380836/|title=The Thing About Jellyfish|author=Benjamin, Ali|author-link=Ali Benjamin|date=22 September 2015|publisher=Hachette|isbn=9780316380836|access-date=10 June 2018}} While researching the subject, Suzy identifies the following real-life jellyfish experts she thinks could ask for help:

1. Dhugal Lindsay (Japan), who also writes haiku{{cite web|url=https://www.aeon.info/ef/midoripress/profile/dhugal_lindsay.html|title=Who's Who: Dhugal Lindsay, Australia|publisher=The Midori Press|access-date=10 June 2018}}
2. Diana Nyad (America), who was forced to abandon several attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida due to jellyfish stings{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/08/21/health/diana-nyad-swim/index.html|title=Nyad quits swim after storm, jellyfish stings|date=22 August 2012|work=CNN|access-date=10 June 2018}}
3. Angel Yanagihara (America), who studied box jellyfish after she nearly died from a sting{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/better-living-through-venom|title=Better Living Through Venom|magazine=The New Yorker|date=12 October 2015|author=Pasternack, Alex|access-date=10 June 2018}}
4. Jamie Seymour (Australia), who survived an Irukanji sting{{cite magazine|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/killers-in-paradise-75479328/|title=Killers In Paradise|magazine=Smithsonian|date=June 2005|author=Raffaele, Paul|access-date=10 June 2018}}

• {{cite book |url=https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/ali-benjamin/the-thing-about-jellyfish/9780316380836/ |title=The Thing About Jellyfish |author=Benjamin, Ali |author-link=Ali Benjamin |date=22 September 2015 |author-mask=— |publisher=Hachette |isbn=9780316380836 |access-date=10 June 2018}}

Publishers Weekly gave the novel a starred review, calling it "a shining example of the highs and lows of early adolescence, as well as a testament to the grandeur of the natural world."{{cite news |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-316-38086-7 |title=The Thing About Jellyfish |date=September 2015 |work=Publishers Weekly |access-date=10 June 2018}} Jacqueline Kelly, reviewing for The New York Times, said it was "heartfelt and fascinating" and believed "a lot of children [...] might not only benefit from this book but also [would] find themselves deeply moved by it."{{cite web | last=Kelly | first=Jacqueline | title='The Thing About Jellyfish,' by Ali Benjamin | website=The New York Times | date=2015-10-09 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/11/books/review/the-thing-about-jellyfish-by-ali-benjamin.html | access-date=2016-03-09}}

The Thing About Jellyfish was nominated for 2015 National Book Award.{{cite web|title=2015 National Book Awards|url=https://www.nationalbook.org/awards-prizes/national-book-awards-2015|publisher=National Book Foundation|access-date=28 March 2016}} School Library Journal named the novel to one of its Best Books of 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.slj.com/2015/11/reviews/best-books-feature/best-books-2015-the-thing-about-jellyfish-middle-grade/ |title=Best Books 2015, Middle Grade: The Thing About Jellyfish |website=Best Books 2015 |publisher=School Library Journal |access-date=10 June 2018}}

A theatrical adaptation is set to premiere at Berkeley Rep in January 2025.{{cite news |title=Broadway-aimed ‘The Thing About Jellyfish’ will debut at Berkeley Rep |url=https://www.broadwaynews.com/broadway-aimed-the-thing-about-jellyfish-will-debut-at-berkeley-rep/ |access-date=18 January 2025 |work=Broadway News |date=17 April 2024 |language=en}}

{{Update|date=July 2022|reason=There is no information about the movie adaptation of The Thing About Jellyfish beyond 2019}}

Reese Witherspoon announced in October 2015 on her Instagram feed that her company, Pacific Standard Films, would create a film based on the novel.{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/celebrity/reese-witherspoons-book-to-movie-club/ |title=Reese Witherspoon's Book-To-Movie Club |author=Gillette, Sam |date=26 September 2016 |magazine=People |access-date=10 June 2018}} In January 2017, OddLot Entertainment acquired the screen rights to the novel. Gigi Pritzker, Bruna Papandrea, and Witherspoon were named as the producers.{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/the-thing-about-jellyfish-oddlot-gigi-pritzker-bruna-papandrea-reese-witherspoon-movie-1201894961/ |title=Oddlot Teams With Bruna Papandrea & Reese Witherspoon On 'The Thing About Jellyfish' |author=Fleming, Mike Jr. |date=27 January 2017 |work=Deadline |access-date=10 June 2018}} In March 2019, it was announced that Wanuri Kahiu would be directing the film, with Millie Bobby Brown starring as Suzy.{{cite web |last1=Kit|first1=Borys|title=Millie Bobby Brown, Filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu Tackling 'The Thing About Jellyfish' for Universal (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/millie-bobby-brown-wanuri-kahui-adapting-thing-jellyfish-1194816 |website=Variety|access-date=November 11, 2020|date=March 14, 2019}}

{{Portal|Children's literature}}

• Goodbye Stranger, by Rebecca Stead
• Otherwise Known as Possum, by Maria Laso

{{reflist}}

• {{YouTube |id=gc37adcNRSQ |title=Ali Benjamin reads at the 2015 National Book Awards Finalists Reading}}
• {{YouTube |id=QnH7Rtysh7o |title=Introducing Ali Benjamin and THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH}}
• {{cite interview |url=http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2015_ypl_benjamin_interv.html |title=Interview With Ali Benjamin - 2015 National Book Award Finalist, Young People's Literature |interviewer=Tim Manley |subject=Ali Benjamin |date=2015 |publisher=National Book Foundation |access-date=10 June 2018}}
• {{cite news |url=http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2015/09/28/the-thing-about-jellyfish |title=Science Plays Lead Role In New Book Aimed At Young Adults |date=28 September 2015 |work=WBUR |access-date=10 June 2018}}
• {{cite interview |url=http://m.mtnvalleyhospice.org/blog/details/id/41/ali-benjamin-on-the-thing-about-jellyfis |title=Ali Benjamin on "The Thing About Jellyfish" |subject=Ali Benjamin |interviewer=Josh Armstrong |date=16 February 2016 |publisher=Mountain Valley Hospice |access-date=10 June 2018}}
• {{cite news |url=http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2016/08/11/thing-about-jellyfish |title=In 'The Thing About Jellyfish,' A Quirky Preteen Deals With Life Through Science |date=11 August 2016 |work=WBUR |access-date=10 June 2018}}

• {{cite news |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ali-benjamin/the-thing-about-jellyfish/ |title=The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin |publisher=Kirkus Reviews |access-date=10 June 2018}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.slj.com/2015/08/reviews/books/the-thing-about-jellyfish-by-ali-benjamin-slj-review/ |title=The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin |author=Morefield, Juliet |date=12 August 2015 |publisher=School Library Journal |access-date=10 June 2018}}
• {{cite web |url=http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2015/09/30/the-thing-about-debuts/ |title=The Thing About Debuts |author=Lindsay, Nina |date=30 September 2015 |website=Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog |publisher=School Library Journal |access-date=10 June 2018}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.hbook.com/2015/11/blogs/lollys-classroom/the-thing-about-jellyfish/ |title=The Thing About Jellyfish |author=Bradley, Jada |date=12 November 2015 |website=Lolly's Classroom [blog] |publisher=The Horn Book |access-date=10 June 2018}}

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Category:2015 American novels

Category:American children's novels

Category:2015 children's books

Category:Little, Brown and Company books

Category:Children's books set in Massachusetts