The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

What you learn throughout the book is that Suzy and Franny were inseparable since the age of 5, but in sixth grade, Franny started hanging out with the popular kids and Suzy became increasingly unpopular.

The book is about a seventh grader named Suzy processing the death of her former best friend, Franny, who has died over the summer between sixth and seventh grade (she drowns). In my opinion, although an elementary-schooler would be capable of reading this book, the mature topics make this a better read for a teen. However, it has some extremely mature topics, which I'll outline below. It also has the ability (think: Wonder) to develop empathy for kids that might be different. It is really good in way that many kids' books are not. Readers of all ages will have a lot to think about regarding grief, hope, science as a field of study, friendship, and much more, on many levels. Suzy's adult gay brother has a boyfriend and she mentions seeing through the windshield a quick kiss between them before they backed out of the driveway and drove to the movies. The pain of jellyfish stings is briefly described, there's speculation about the friend's death, and a spot of blood is mentioned in the context of a first period. Suzy's a great role model for scientific inquiry, and there's a lot of educational value on academic as well as emotional levels. Death and grief are explored in nongraphic, literary detail. Parents need to know that The Thing About Jellyfish is a coming-of-age story about seventh-grader Suzy Swanson, whose best friend has just died by drowning. Cigarette smell mentioned.ĭid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Turton is the one we all wish we had: engaging, playfully curious, and serious about her subject matter, and while giving misfit kids a safe haven, she also gives them the personal space to be themselves.ĭad drinks Rolling Rock beer a couple of times with meals. An adult older brother also is loving and supportive. Her divorced parents are loving, caring, and supportive and model amicable, cooperative parenting. She goes from drifting (like a jellyfish) through her grief, without understanding her place in the world and being able to accept how things are. She makes mistakes in judgment, thinking it's OK to act on her own and that everything will be fine when she explains afterward. Socially, she's a bit awkward and comes across as odd to her fellow students, but she just has a lot on her mind and doesn't see much point in small talk. She independently researches when she wants to know something and models careful and thorough note-taking. Suzy Swanson, 12, is a great role model for scientific inquiry.

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin