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| Author | Ali Benjamin |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Terry Fan and Eric Fan; design by Marcie Lawrence |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Published | 2015 |
| Publisher | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 352 |
| ISBN | 978-0316380867 |
The Thing About Jellyfish is a 2015 children's novel written byAli Benjamin, her fiction debut.[1]
The book follows Suzy Swanson, the protagonist and narrator, who theorizes the death of her friend, Franny Jackson, was caused by ajellyfish 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 citesThe Secret Garden,Harriet the Spy, andFrom 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.[2]
Suzy postulates that Franny's death was the result ofIrukandji syndrome after Suzy learns about jellyfish on a field trip to an unnamed aquarium, which Benjamin states is theNew England Aquarium in the end notes.[3] While researching the subject, Suzy identifies the following real-life jellyfish experts she thinks could ask for help:
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."[8]Jacqueline Kelly, reviewing forThe 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."[9]
The Thing About Jellyfish was nominated for 2015National Book Award.[10]School Library Journal named the novel to one of its Best Books of 2015.[11]
A theatrical adaptation premiered atBerkeley Rep on February 1 2025, and ran until March 9.[12]
 | This article needs to beupdated. The reason given is: There is no information about the movie adaptation of The Thing About Jellyfish beyond 2019. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(July 2022) |
Reese Witherspoon announced in October 2015 on herInstagram feed that her company,Pacific Standard Films, would create a film based on the novel.[13] In January 2017,OddLot Entertainment acquired the screen rights to the novel.Gigi Pritzker,Bruna Papandrea, and Witherspoon were named as the producers.[14] In March 2019, it was announced thatWanuri Kahiu would be directing the film, withMillie Bobby Brown starring as Suzy.[15]
