The Thing About Jellyfish
A book about grief and wonder as seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old.
Suzy Swanson is pretty sure she knows the real reason Franny Jackson died. Everyone says that there’s no way to be certain…that sometimes things just happen. But Suzy knows there must be a better explanation—a scientific one. Haunted by the loss of her former best friend — and by a final, terrible moment that passed between them — she retreats into a silent world of her own imagination. Convinced that Franny’s death was the result of a freak jellyfish sting, she crafts a plan to prove the truth, even if it means traveling around the globe… alone. As she prepares, she learns astonishing things about the universe around her… and discovers the potential for love and hope in her own backyard.
A New York Times bestseller and international bestseller, the Thing About Jellyfish was a National Book Award finalist, a winner of the E.B. White Readaloud Award, the Green Earth Book Award, and the Massachusetts Book Award, and a best book of the year by Booklist, NPR, TIME Magazine, School Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, Amazon, and the New York Public Library.
The Next Great Paulie Fink
Caitlyn Breen, seventh grader, has just started at The Mitchell School, but all her classmates want to talk about is Paulie Fink, the class clown, who has not returned this year. As Caitlyn’s classmates share stories about the missing prankster, his legend begins to build. Eventually (and with some inspiration from the ancient Greeks), they decide there’s only one way to fill the Paulie-sized hole in their class: a reality-show style competition, to be judged by the only objective person around: Caitlyn. But who was this kid, anyway — prankster, performance artist, philosopher, or fool? Caitlyn’s quest to understand Paulie is about to teach her more about herself than she ever imagined.
Told via multiple voices, interviews, emails, and other documents, The Next Great Paulie Fink is a lighthearted yet surprisingly touching exploration of how we build up and tear down our own myths… about others, our communities, and ourselves.
“Wise and funny.”
— The Wall Street Journal
“…what sets the novel apart is Benjamin’s ability to skillfully weave Greek mythology, Shakespeare and even reality television into the mix.”
— WBUR, Here & Now
“entirely original…a middle school story to top all middle school stories.”
-— The Buffalo News
“Benjamin…adroitly fleshes out her witty premise…Genuinely original, the novel offers thoughtful perspectives on friendship, accepting change, and the many rewarding guises of storytelling, as well as a fully gratifying ending that the characters don’t see coming.”
— PW, starred review
“A story with massive heart, Benjamin’s follow-up to The Thing About Jellyfish (2015) proves this writer’s incredible wit, charm, and ability to navigate deep questions while tapping directly into the middle school mindset. The novel is rare for the ease with which it combines ancient Greek studies with modern-day issues such as bullying and change…”
— Kirkus, starred review
“Benjamin has crafted a smart, funny, and deeply felt coming of age story that middle schoolers will relate to and find themselves ruminating on….A witty, tender, and utterly engaging modern school story that draws on the
wisdom of the ages.”
— School Library Journal, starred review
“Ali…has a phenomenal knack for weaving together seemingly mismatched threads–goats, soccer, pantsuits, bullying, Plato–as if they have every right to be together, making a gorgeous tapestry. The Next Great Paulie Fink is a beautiful, powerful novel about embracing one’s own great self, even–or especially–in middle school.”
— Shelf Awareness starred review