The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin Summary

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin is a middle grade novel about 12-year-old Suzy Swanson, who struggles to accept that her former best friend Franny Jackson died in a drowning accident. After learning about the deadly Irukandji jellyfish on a school aquarium trip, Suzy becomes convinced that Franny was killed by a jellyfish sting rather than drowning. The story explores Suzy's journey through grief, guilt, and her scientific quest to prove her theory while processing the painful dissolution of their friendship.

The Thing About Jellyfish is ideal for middle grade readers aged 10-14, though it resonates with all ages dealing with loss and grief. This book appeals to science-minded kids who appreciate factual information woven into fiction, as well as readers navigating the complexities of middle school friendships and social dynamics. Parents, educators, and anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one will find the hopeful, moving narrative meaningful and relatable.

The Thing About Jellyfish is worth reading for its authentic portrayal of grief, friendship, and the middle school experience. Ali Benjamin's debut novel received widespread critical acclaim and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Readers praise its lyrical writing style, realistic character development, and unique approach to processing loss through scientific inquiry. While some find the present-day plot overly dramatic, the emotional depth and hopeful message about coping with tragedy make it a powerful, memorable read.

Ali Benjamin is an author whose 2015 debut novel The Thing About Jellyfish launched her fiction writing career. According to Benjamin's acknowledgments, the book originated from a failed essay submission about jellyfish. She transformed her rejected nonfiction piece into a powerful middle grade novel that explores grief, scientific curiosity, and the complexities of childhood friendship through the lens of jellyfish research. Her ability to blend scientific facts with emotional storytelling established her as a distinctive voice in children's literature.

The central theme of The Thing About Jellyfish is processing grief through scientific logic and accepting life's unanswerable questions. Suzy Swanson applies the scientific method to her emotional pain, seeking rational explanations for an inexplicable tragedy. The novel explores how children cope with loss, the evolving nature of friendship, bullying, guilt, and the search for meaning when faced with senseless events. It also examines identity formation during middle school and the importance of family support during difficult times.

Suzy stops talking in The Thing About Jellyfish as a way to de-clutter the world of unimportant noise and process her overwhelming grief after Franny's death. Her selective mutism reflects her belief that silence helps people hear their own lives better and makes words more meaningful when spoken. This communication shutdown concerns her divorced parents enough that they arrange therapy sessions. Suzy's silence represents her attempt to control chaos and create space for understanding in a world that suddenly feels incomprehensible.

The Irukandji jellyfish theory is Suzy's hypothesis that Franny Jackson died from the sting of an Irukandji jellyfish rather than drowning. After visiting an aquarium exhibit, Suzy learns that the Irukandji possesses potentially the deadliest venom in the world and has begun migrating from its native Australia. Despite Franny drowning in Maryland, Suzy becomes convinced this rare jellyfish caused her death and embarks on extensive research to prove it. She even plans to fly to Australia to meet jellyfish expert Dr. Jamie Seymour to validate her theory.

The Thing About Jellyfish portrays grief through Suzy's scientific approach to processing her friend's death and her overwhelming guilt about their fractured friendship. Suzy cannot accept random tragedy, so she seeks logical explanations through jellyfish research. Her guilt stems from a cruel prank she played on Franny before her death—freezing sheets of urine and placing them in Franny's locker as a "wake-up call" about her changing behavior. The novel shows how children cope with complicated emotions when loss occurs before reconciliation is possible.

Suzy and Franny were inseparable best friends from age five until sixth grade, when Franny became interested in boys, clothes, and the popular crowd. As Franny joined a new social circle, the awkward, science-loving Suzy was left behind and eventually excluded from lunch tables. After Franny made Suzy promise to give her a big message if she ever became like the arrogant popular girls, Suzy followed through with a cruel prank involving frozen urine in Franny's locker. This betrayal ended their friendship, and Franny died before they could reconcile.

The Thing About Jellyfish structures its narrative around the scientific method, with chapters divided into sections mirroring scientific inquiry. Suzy, who has been taught to solve problems systematically, applies this logical framework to process her grief and investigate Franny's death. She forms a hypothesis about the Irukandji jellyfish, conducts extensive research, gathers evidence, and seeks expert validation from jellyfish scientists. This scientific approach represents Suzy's way of imposing order on chaos and finding concrete answers to abstract emotional pain.

The Thing About Jellyfish is classified as middle grade fiction, appropriate for readers aged 10-14, though it appeals to all ages. The protagonist Suzy is 12 years old and in seventh grade, making it relatable for middle schoolers navigating similar social dynamics. While the book deals with death, grief, and bullying, it handles these themes with sensitivity and hope rather than darkness. The scientific content and emotional depth make it accessible for younger readers while remaining meaningful for teenagers and adults processing loss.

Critics of The Thing About Jellyfish note that the jellyfish facts sometimes feel awkwardly inserted rather than organically woven into the narrative, reading more like scientific research than fiction. Some reviewers found the present-day plot overly dramatic, particularly Suzy's decision to stop talking and her plan to fly alone to Australia. The characterization occasionally feels sketchy, with the chemistry between Franny and Suzy described as average by some readers. Additionally, the portrayal of popular girls as vapid compared to intellectual Suzy comes across as reductive and simplistic.