patchworkbunny reviewed The Thing about Jellyfish by Howard Hughes
Review of 'The Thing about Jellyfish' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Prepare yourself for jellyfish facts! I was drawn to this book merely for the fact that I am one of Zu’s statistics, someone who has been stung by a jellyfish, although not a deadly one, obviously, as I am still here. I did have an awful reaction to it and it took years for the marks to disappear. So I have a bit of a funny relationship with them, they are amazing creature scientifically and are very pretty when viewed behind glass tanks, but I’d rather not be in the water with them.
The Thing About Jellyfish is aimed at a younger audience than I would usually go for but has a lot to say about loss, grief and guilt. As the story progresses we see how Zu and Franny grow apart, one maturing faster than the other, becoming interested in different things and the strain of peer pressure on …
Prepare yourself for jellyfish facts! I was drawn to this book merely for the fact that I am one of Zu’s statistics, someone who has been stung by a jellyfish, although not a deadly one, obviously, as I am still here. I did have an awful reaction to it and it took years for the marks to disappear. So I have a bit of a funny relationship with them, they are amazing creature scientifically and are very pretty when viewed behind glass tanks, but I’d rather not be in the water with them.
The Thing About Jellyfish is aimed at a younger audience than I would usually go for but has a lot to say about loss, grief and guilt. As the story progresses we see how Zu and Franny grow apart, one maturing faster than the other, becoming interested in different things and the strain of peer pressure on a childhood friendship.
Zu reminded me of a younger Harriet Manners, she loves facts and talking, but not quite so aware of how this makes others see her. Accused of talking too much, after her friend dies she chooses to not talk. I liked this more than Silence is Goldfish because Zu is sensible enough to acknowledge sometimes you have to speak, she is just fed up of small talk (I can relate). Her not speaking doesn’t get her into trouble, other than the fact her parents are concerned about her.
The writing is beautiful and poignant. The chapters start with a lesson learnt from her science classes and the book follows her research into jellyfish as well as flashbacks to her time with Franny, showing the two girls growing up together and apart. By the time I got to the end I wished Zu well for the future, wanting her to grow into a new person with new friends. She’s just got left behind a little but there is hope.
Review copy provided by publisher.