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The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin is a heartfelt story about life and loss.
What did you think of it?

I'm only halfway through but I feel as though I have one foot in adult world and one food in child world as I read. Sometimes I feel that the author is trying too hard for a message instead of an honest story. I live in Moore, OK where we lost some students at school in a tornado and I know there are many students who deal with the loss of a friend. A third grade girl died in a car wreck with her best friend this year. They are/were students at my school. This could be a genuine story, but I'm not sure yet.

Wow that's kind of powerful.

I started it and thought it was OK, but I got tired of it and it was due back to the library, so I just skimmed the rest and read part of the ending. It is probably more deserving of attention than what I gave it, though.

In The Thing About Jellyfish, the format of a science project report is used to structure a book of fiction. This is a very unique approach.

I read it before it was published, and I liked it... But it felt very familiar, like another story I've read, I just can't put my finger on it though. I did like the scientific tid bits about jellyfish, but I'm really not sure it's a Newbery book.

I loved this book. This is the first science-fiction book I have truly loved. I tried so hard to like science-fiction books like The Fourteenth Goldfish or A Wrinkle in Time, but they always fell flat for me--actually boring me after a few chapters in, so I almost didn't read this book because it was science fiction. I loved the plot; I loved the science facts incorporated in the story; I love the bigger sections being sectioned off with the scientific method, with an explanation of what that part of the scientific method actually meant. Very creative. Great ending. Personally, I think it could get a Newbery honor award.

Czechgirl wrote: "I loved this book. This is the first science-fiction book I have truly loved. I tried so hard to like science-fiction books like The Fourteenth Goldfish or A Wrinkle in Time, but they always fell f..."

I am really confused by your use of the term "science fiction" when referring to this book. It is firmly planted in the realistic fiction camp.

Besides that, I just felt this book was okay. I can think of some students I would recommend it to, but it is not really distinguished in any way. I did think the formatting was interesting, and I look forward to what this author does next.

I can appreciate the writing and formatting of this book. It was well done. But did anyone else feel like it was too depressing? I wish she had injected a little bit more humor or hope (like giving her new friend, Justin, a bit more playing time). The process of how she revealed a little information/history bit by bit was well done, but the more she revealed, the more depressed I got...

Overall, I don't really know if it's distinguished enough for Newbery, since their seems to be a lot of don't-know-how-to-deal-with-grief books lately

Jenni--I guess I can see how you are confused. I guess I always thought that science fiction was fiction, but included science-topic elements, but after looking up the genre definition, I now place in the realistic fiction genre. Now, I know why I liked this book so much. I guess I still haven't found a science fiction book I love.

I thought this book was just "off".

Much too much info about jellyfish. Unfortunately, this info dump was acknowledged by the author, who confirmed that she had in fact done a great deal of research about jellyfish for a project that was cancelled, and she wanted to put it to use. But not that successfully, in my opinion, for the linkage between the natural history of jellyfish and the plot seemed forced.

Another Asperger's-type main character...enough already - can't a child be smart and curious AND have social skills!?!

Weak explanation of just why Suzy the protagonist was so devoted to her friend Franny.

Among the plot problems: why would such a supersmart girl be so clueless about passports/visas/Visas?

And if any child in real life delivered a "message" the way Suzy did to Franny (oh-so-carefully-planned and oh-so-very-nasty), she would be assigned to therapy for years.

not a contender (but if it wins a National Book Award, I guess I will have to eat my words....)

I so agree! I can see why some kids might like this but I felt it encourages kids to be way too introspective and really never did give a resolution or anything that helped the reader to cope with grief. Grief was so much better dealt with in Kevin Henkes "Olives Ocean" which was a Newbery Honor.

I am currently reading this book. Only on p. 105, so I am still in it. I have read the comments so far and thank everyone for sharing. Right now it brings to mind LOST IN THE SUN.

I read TAJ in one sitting on my way home from ALA. I truly enjoyed it and appreciated how Benjamin wove in the science part of the story. There are not that many recent books that do this. I also think that she did a wonderful job showing us how a middle schooler deals with death, blame, and obsession.

When I read young adult and middle school fiction, the one thing that stands out for me is authentic voice. Does the author convey an authentic voice of a child character? Benjamin does it beautifully here. Here is a child unable to accept or adjust to the fact that some things just happen. Her scientific mind using the scientific method to understand and seek answers to the loss of a friend . The book is a beautiful story of healing and love.

I listened to the audio which I would not necessarily recommend. The voice was too adult and stilted.

I dont have a good sense of what is so good to be considered for Newbery, but it is one of the best that this discussion group has read.