Representation: It's complicated...
Trigger warnings: Death of a child in the ocean, death of a friend, grief and loss depiction
Score: Eight points out of ten.
This review can also be found on The StoryGraph.

This is the first book I have ever read that involved grief and it just delivered! The main character, Suzy, is so unique and interesting which is due to her impressive imagination and good use of metaphors that really made her distinct from other characters in other books. The plot itself is quite simple considering that it's targeted towards middle graders but it was so effective and I think all readers can enjoy this masterpiece of a book. The way this book was written was interesting but it didn't feel gimmicky, disjointed or unnecessary at all, it's just the story is split between two time periods and it just goes back and forth between the two. The plot revolves around Suzy and her friend Franny whose friendship fell apart and later on she died for some reason and Suzy thought a jellyfish stung her and killed her so she embarks on a research project about jellyfish at school while also processing the feelings of grief which I liked and I thought that was executed well. I also supposed Franny was a great friend right until she no longer accepted Suzy as herself and it was a shame that she couldn't restore her friendship with her and I liked the side characters as well since they were all very supportive of her, especially her science teacher whose name I forgot. If you like a well executed story about loss and grief this is the book for you. ( )

After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy must have been a rare jellyfish sting--things don't just happen for no reason. Retreating into a silent world of imagination, she crafts a plan to prove her theory--even if it means traveling the globe, alone. Suzy's achingly heartfelt journey explores life, death, the astonishing wonder of the universe...and the potential for love and hope right next door. ( )

4.2/5 ( )

This was really gorgeous and I felt all of Zu's emotions. ( )

When 12 year old Suzy's friend, Franny, dies in the sea on holiday, Suzy can not accept that 'some things just happen'. She stops talking and, on a school trip to the aquarium, becomes convinced that Franny was stung by a jellyfish. She begins researching jellyfish, eventually deciding that she needs to go and visit an expert in Australia to find the answers that she is seeking. Along the way, she recounts the story of her friendship with Franny and eventually makes new friends. This is interspersed with amazing scientific facts and information and commentary about the value of silence and the importance of understanding and being understood.
This was a really touching story about loss, growing up, family, science, feeling out of place and the universe. I read the whole book in one afternoon, being swept along by the need to find out whether Suzy would be able to find the explanation that would enable her to say goodbye to her friend. ( )