The Thing About Jellyfish

"Young adult literature often takes grief as its subject — whether in Terabithia or at a cancer support group. Ali Benjamin’s beautiful debut also deals in death and somehow feels both familiar and innovative. The broad strokes: Suzy’s best friend, Franny, dies while swimming in the ocean, after the girls had become estranged. Suzy craves answers — and convinces herself that a rare, poisonous jellyfish must be at fault for Franny’s death. Along the way, the reader — and Suzy — learn a lot of scientific facts. But there are, of course, no good answers to why scary and sad things happen. Benjamin illuminates what we can learn in a voice that will appeal to both kids and adults."