The Boy who Said Wow by Todd Boss illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh

"A risk" says Mother

"A challenge" says Father

"An adventure" cried Grandfather

Publisher blurb: When Grandfather comes to take his grandson to a concert, Ronan is quiet as they leave the house, quiet in the car, and quiet at the concert hall. But when the performance is over and the beautiful music fades out at last, Ronan opens his mouth…and lets out a great big WOW! Not any old WOW, but Ronan’s very first WOW! That one word fills up the hearts of Ronan’s family, the musicians, the audience, and—when the recording goes viral—the world.

What was the music I hear you ask - 'Masonic Funeral music' by Mozart.

Spending time in a public library last month I spied this book which I had heard of but not read. I enjoy attending classical music concerts in special venues so it made me smile to hear the true story of this little boy who was so moved by the music he heard that in the silence after the final note from the orchestra he said 'wow'! 

This wow is huge partly because it is a beautiful and natural reaction to a special experience but more importantly because this boy was almost nonverbal and yet he used his voice to express his delight. 

I love that he took his dog to the concert, but I can imagine some adults might think this was an odd inclusion in a story that is based on real events.  Add this book to your list of stories to share when you talk about the 2026 CBCA slogan 'A Symphony of Stories'. After or even before sharing this book, I would grab your own favourite piece of classical music and ask your library group to close their eyes and just listen - perhaps one or two of the younger children might have a reaction like Ronan in this story. This is not a video of the actual book it has different illustrations, but it is worth a look because you can hear the music as the story is told. 

The Boy who Said Wow was published in 2024. As I write this post you can buy this book for a really good price here in Australia but I also sure it will be found in many public libraries.

A heartwarming testament to music’s emotional power. Kirkus

The limited colour palette of the illustrations captures the emotions of all the characters and because they are set in a seemingly timeless setting, this enables the reader to identify with the characters more closely and raise questions. Why is Ronan silent? Is it ok to be quiet most of the time? How much do we value silence? Just Imagine

Rashin Kheiriyeh has a master’s degree in graphic design and a doctorate in illustration and has illustrated more than eighty books in half a dozen languages, including Welcome Home by Aimee Reid and Story Boat by Kyo Maclear, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year. She was a 2017 Maurice Sendak fellow and is a lecturer at the University of Maryland. She was born in Khorramshahr, Iran, and now lives in Washington.

The Book Tree

Birdy by Sharon Kernot

Maddy along with her mum and brother Charlie (the Professor) have moved to a remote country town in South Australia. An utterly dreadful thing has happened to Maddy and her anxiety is so overwhelming she can no longer speak. Mum does not pressure Maddy and she has agreed to do regular counselling. Her brother, who is ten, is also supportive. He loves to collect things and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the world. One day he finds a couple of curious things, but he tells Maddy they are of no value - a small bluebird necklace, some bottle tops and the button from a pair of Levi jeans. 

Maddy needs to challenge herself and so she goes to the local general store to gather the family shopping. She is not able to speak to the shop keeper and experiences panic attacks every time she goes there but she persists. One day a young girl is behind the counter. Her name is Levi. Levi is friendly and she does not pressure Maddy once her brother explains Maddy cannot talk. It takes a lot of courage and time but eventually they become friends and Maddy begins to trust Levi - maybe she can tell Levi what has happened.

Meanwhile there is an elderly reclusive lady in the town who has suffered great losses in her life. Her husband worked at Maralinga where they did nuclear bomb testing and he died from radiation sickness many years ago. Alice has also lost her precious daughter Birdie. Birdie disappeared forty-five years ago but Alice clings to the hope that one day she will come home. Alice hurts her foot and so Maddy is asked to deliver her groceries and gradually we watch as this unlikely pair form a friendship.

Birdy is a verse novel. It is a very engrossing story which will greatly appeal to readers aged 14+. This book deals with some big themes such as sexual assault; issues of consent; anxiety leading to selective mutism; and profound grief.

I did appreciate the Australian and literary references in this book. Charlie is described as a mini-Harry Butler (I'm sure only readers of a certain age will recognise this reference); when they go for a drive one day she reads about the story of Bob the Railway Dog (see image of the picture book at the end of this post); also Maddy loves the poetry of Emily Dickinson. There are also 1970s music references such as Carole King You've got a Friend. And there are very important references in this book to the historic events at Maralinga.

Birdy is highly recommended for teens, for both its honest, heart-wrenching content and lyrical free-verse style. Read Plus

Birdy is filled with positive examples of people supporting each other through their words and kind deeds, and touches on some of the different ways of dealing with anxiety. It also addresses the harm that social media can do, and the strength of character required to counter this. The serious issues that shape Maddy and Alice’s lives (implied sexual assault and anxiety, hoarding and depression) are dealt with sensitively and eventually resolved. Read Plus

Birdy is a title on our 2025 CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) short list for Older Readers. I don't usually read the books on this list because they are beyond the scope of this blog which is aimed at readers (and teachers and Teacher-Librarians) with books for ages 4-12. I picked up Birdy from the hospital library where I work as a volunteer partly because the cover is so arresting and partly because I was fairly certain the staff who catalogued this title had put in in the wrong part of our collection. They had added it to our middle grade chapter books but now that I have read Birdy I can say it is most definitely a Young Adult title. 

Read more about Sharon Kernot here. I am not sure I would use this book with a class - it feels too much like a personal journey that should be experienced by a solitary reader walking alongside Maddy and her journey to understanding and recovery, but the publisher has prepared some teaching notes if these interest you. Joy Lawn interviewed Sharon Kernot on her blog Paperbark Words. 

Awards for Birdy:

• Shortlisted, CBCA Book of the Year, Older Readers, 2025
• Shortlisted, NSW Literary Awards Ethel Turner Prize for Young People’s Literature, 2025
• Shortlisted, Readings Young Adult Prize, 2024

Here are the CBCA judges comments:

In Birdy, a compelling verse novel, two heartfelt and heartbreaking mysteries slowly unfold and overlap – a powerful contemporary drama intersecting with a historical crime. The main character Maddy is a teenage girl who is experiencing selective mutism and anxiety after what she will only refer to as The Incident. Her family relocates to the country to help her recover and there she makes a surprising connection with the reclusive older woman Alice, whose daughter Birdy disappeared 45 years ago. The novel explores ideas about shame, loss and trauma, the healing power of friendship and kindness, and celebrates the ability of poetry to generate deep feelings in both the writer and reader. We witness the skillful execution of the expressive and poetic language of a verse novel, to create rhythm, pause and silence to reflect the interior mood of the character of Maddy. The language is rich, descriptive and evocative, while still being accessible for the teen audience. This book would appeal to readers who love reading realistic, contemporary, heartfelt stories, and who enjoy crime and mystery. The descriptive, evocative language and complex themes provide much scope for detailed study in a classroom environment.

Companion books:

When Maddy intrudes on Birdy's room which has been carefully preserved by her mother and left just as it was 45 years ago I thought of this older Australian book from 1991:

Storm Horse by Nick Garlick

 

Flip lives in Amsterdam with his father. Some years ago, his mother left the family because Flip's father refused to give up his thieving. One evening the police arrive at their door and Flip is told his father has died. Shortly afterwards his taciturn uncle arrives, Flip has never met this man before but within hours he is taken to live with his uncle, aunt and young cousin on a remote island.

Not long after his arrival on the island there is a wild storm and the men of the town race to man the lifeboats. Sadly, they are not able to save this farmer who was taking his horses to a different island, but one horse does manage to swim close to the shore. It is Flip who finds this horse that has become badly tangled in ropes. Flip is terrified and he cannot swim but he somehow manages to rescue the horse and from that moment a special bond is formed between this pair. But there are many more things that threaten this relationship including three boys who are determined to torment young Flip. Luckily there are a couple of wonderful adults in this story - Mr Bouten who is a farm hand and his wonderful Aunt. Flip also makes two wonderful young friends - his cousin little Renske and the Ghost Girl. The Ghost Girl is not a ghost - she is a young girl named Sophie so is deeply mourning her own loss - the death of her father. Her grief means she has become a selective mute. 

If you can find this book and you want to share it with a horse loving reader or a group of students, I suggest you could read Chapter 37 as a part of your book talk. The rescue by Storm of the lifeboat horses is a gripping and wild scene. 

Sadly, this book is out of print, but I was able to borrow a copy from a library where I work as a volunteer at The Children's Hospital Westmead. I began reading this book on the train this morning and devoured the first 63 pages, then on the train and bus coming home I finished off the last pages - 220 in total. This story consumed me today and I could hardly wait for my trip home so I could rejoin Flip and his beautiful horse Storm. One way I search for books in this library is by publisher. They often add books published by Chicken House and they never disappoint. While the print version of this book is out of print the ebook is available.  Barry Cunningham from Chicken House often writes a short message at the beginning of his books. In this one he said "I love wild places and animal stories so when I read this exciting tale of a boy, horse, remote island and unexpected friends, I was nearly carried away into the surf and dangerous seas myself. But I had no worries because Nick Garlick is a clever and compassionate storyteller - although watch out he's got a wild side too."

Overall, a solid horse book with the bonus of a male protagonist. Kirkus

Listen to an audio sample here of chapter one. There are some really useful extra details on the author webpage including videos of lifeboat horses and a short but terrific trailer. Nick Garlick was born in the UK but now lives in the Netherlands. Here is the Dutch cover:

Evie and Rhino by Neridah McMullin illustrated by Astred Hicks

Things that appealed to me about this book:

• The cover
• The back story of the real shipwreck off the coast of south-west Victoria in 1891 which contained exotic animals including a real rhinoceros
• The apple pie recipe at the back of the book
• The small sections of text where we read the thoughts/perspective of Rhino himself
• The themes of justice for animals and healing for humans
• The beautiful "voice" of young Evie
• The wonderful happy ending

Publisher blurb: A moving tale about love, connection and the healing power of friendship. 1891 On a stormy night off the coast of southern Australia, a ship transporting a cargo of exotic animals tosses and turns in enormous seas. Rhino senses they are in grave danger. Not far away, ten-year-old Evie and her grandfather shelter in their crumbling, once-grand old home. They know too well how deadly storms can be. When all is calm, Evie treks over the dunes to the sea and makes a discovery that will change her life, and Rhino’s, forever. Will the tragedies of their pasts finally be put to rest?

This book was published in October 2022. Huge thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance copy.

Narrated in the present tense, this charming story of friendship and conservation will be enjoyed by those who like adventure, animals, and justice. McMullin’s descriptive language and captivating story-telling leave the reader wanting more after each chapter. In addition, she incorporates the rhino’s perspective, narrated alongside the child’s perspective, which allows the reader to fully understand the bond between Evie and Rhino. Reading Time

I would pair this book with this picture book:

Recently on a social media forum someone asked for books to read after Storm Boy. Here is their request: Hi everyone! I just read Storm Boy to my 7-year-old son and he loved it, and wants to read more real-life stories about special friendships with animals. 

I did disagree with a few of the suggestions especially Pax by Sara Pennypacker which in my view is aimed at a much older reader and I would like to say save this for later.  I would suggest Evie and Rhino might be a book this parent could read with their child. Other books suggested on the forum were: 

Wandi by Favel Parrett (this could be perfect)

Blueback by Tim Winton

One dog and his boy by Eva Ibbotson (not a true story)

The last bear by Hannah Gold

The dog with seven names by Dianne Wolfer

Speedy by Colin Thiele

The one and only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

I previously talked about two picture books by Neridah McMullin

Fabish - the horse that braved a bushfire

Drover

No Words by Maryam Master

Aria is the new boy at school. Hero (named after the Shakespearean character) and her friend Jaz are curious about Aria. He does not speak. No he is not just a quiet kid - he is mute. At first their friendship is more about curiosity, this no speaking seems like a mystery to solve, but very quickly all three become good friends which means they can unite against the school bully Rufus. Well Hero would like to challenge and even defeat Rufus but every time she witnesses dreadful things happening to Aria she just freezes - she seems unable to be a hero even though that is her name. Then the girls make another discovery about Aria and so perhaps Hero can be a hero after all.

At home things can be tough for Hero because her father suffers enormous mood swings - he can be UP and happy and engaged or way down and unable to leave the house or get out of bed. 

Jaz is the third character and she is just a crazy girl. She is loud and has strong opinions and she is fearless even though she does obsess about her health.

Now that you have met Aria, Hero and Jaz you need to read this book to discover why Aria cannot talk, how Jaz and Hero help him, and hopefully find out how the issue of Rufus is resolved. 

There are a lot of issues in this book which has just over 200 pages - bullies, mental health, refugees, courage, and the importance of friendship. 

The strongest part of this writing comes from the way Maryam Master gives the reader fragments of Aria's story and his terrifying experience of fleeing Iran. These chapters are 'decorated' with fragments of the Arabic and English alphabet. This is a subtle but well designed way to show the change of voice. The short chapters ensure this book is a quick read and a true page turner. 

Maryam Master talked to Joy Lawn at Paperbark Words:

It is my hope that anyone reading No Words will be uplifted. I hope they too will see that no matter what curveballs life throws at us (even a revolution!), hope and humour will see us through. Oh, and words.

My only small criticism of this book (and probably these parts will appeal to the target audience of 10+) are the references to poo, farts and snot. I am not the target audience but these felt like cheap, and perhaps unnecessary, jokes although I appreciate that Maryam wanted to add a touch of humour to her story. I also was unsure why the class teacher was depicted as such a crazy lady allocating hundreds of detention hours for tiny misdemeanours. On the other hand this book has a huge amount of heart and Aria's experiences are heart-wrenching and beautifully described. I also really enjoy books with multiple voices. 

Parts of this book reminded me of a more sophisticated story Soraya the Storyteller by Rosanne Hawke.

Companion reads:

The Boy at the Back of the Class

Shooting Kabul

Escape from Aleppo

No Ballet shoes in Syria

This one is perfect for a younger audience

Mina and the Whole wide world

Christophe's Story

The Eleventh Trade

The Red Pencil

If you want to explore another book about selective mutism try to find this one (note it has several different covers):

A Dog called Homeless

And these:

Jubilee

Bronze and Sunflower

A dog called Homeless by Sarah Lean

Cally's mum has died in a car accident. Cally is having trouble at school. Trouble with her teachers. Trouble with her friends who treat Cally with such unkindness and she also has trouble at home with her father who has become withdrawn and quiet. 

Students at school join a fundraising challenge. Three children are selected from each class and the challenge is to stay silent for a whole school day. 

"The day had passed and I'd not been in trouble, not fallen out with anyone, nobody told me to be quiet. Nobody said anything to me at all."

Cally maintains her silence. She is certain she has seen her mum. She saw her when the extended family visited the cemetery on the anniversary of her death which is also her father's birthday. Then Cally saw her mum at school. On this second "visit" mum has a dog with her. This dog is real and he wants to be friends with Cally. The third time Cally sees the dog he is with a homeless man who is sitting outside a music shop juggling with a cap for coins on the footpath. The man has a sign that says homeless and Cally decides this will be the name for the dog.

Cally's father will not allow Cally to have a dog. Without telling Cally or her older brother he has sold their house. The family of three move into an upstairs flat. Living in the flat below, Cally meets Sam his mum. Sam is blind and deaf, Cally no longer talks, but somehow these two become the best of friends.

"Cally and me, one who feels and one who sees."

The pieces of this story are like a jigsaw puzzle but this is a puzzle where you don't have access to the full picture until the final piece is put in the right place. 

One of the best characters in this story is quite a minor one - Dr Colborn. She has been brought into the school to talk to Cally and to help her now that she has stopped talking. Cally is sure this Doctor will be terrible but actually she is wise and kind and wonderful. 

"I thought she could see right inside me , right into my heart. And I didn't mind. You could tell she was really nice."

Yes this is a book about a child and their love of a special dog but the dog is not the main focus of the story. The themes of grief, disabilities, communication, and healing are at the centre of this beautiful book. This will sound very odd but I just loved this sad story. It felt good to have a little cry at the end. Yes, this book does have a happy ending but Cally's life story and journey through grief is sure to touch your heart. In this story we walk hand in hand with Cally through the confusing and sad months following the accidental death of her mother. Cally just wants her father to talk about her mother, to share family memories, so she can keep the memory of her alive. Thank you Sarah Lean for this beautiful reading experience. 

Ever so gently, this fine debut effort explores the power of human kindness as Cally and her father find effective ways to cope with their loss . Kirkus Star

I'm still an emotional mess if I just think about the beautiful, spell-binding story I just had the pleasure of reading.  Bag of a Bookaholic

This is a moving story, which gently shows what it is like to grieve, and that no two people go through this process in the same way or at the same pace. It makes clear the fact that other people can do very little to help except be there for the person in pain, ready to offer support and a listening ear. The Book Bag

In 2013, A dog called Homeless won the Schneider Family Award (Middle Grade) recognising authors and illustrators for the excellence of portrayal of the disability experience in literature for youth. Some other winners include Rain Reign; Rules; Waiting for Normal; Wonderstruck; The war that saved my life; Fish in a tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt; and The truth as told to Mason Buttle. 

Companion reads to go with A dog called Homeless:

Because of Winn Dixie

Pieces of Georgia

My Father's Words

The remarkable journey of Coyote Sunrise

Jubilee by Patricia Reilly Giff

When she was very young Jubilee's mother abandoned her baby and from that time onward Jubilee herself stopped speaking.

"I drew a kid with red hair and green eyes, brows a little thick. I used quick lines for a pointy nose, and a squirrely nest of corkscrews for the hair. It was turning out to be a girl like me, Judith Ann Magenis. I tapped the pencil. what was missing? Of course, the mouth. My pencil hovered over the blank space. I tore the paper out of the pad, scrunched it up, and tossed it into the water. Maybe like a mother who'd toss a kid away."

Jubilee sees a man dump a dog off the coast of the island in Maine where she lives. Luckily she is able to rescue the dog and he becomes her confidant. She cannot talk at school so she has spent the last five years in a special class. She cannot speak at home but Aunt Cora (her mother's sister) can understand her drawings and hand signs. The pair have developed a beautiful relationship and Cora is certain one day Jubilee will find her voice.

In this new school year Jubilee will join a main stream Grade 5 class. This will be hard for Jubilee and she is especially worried when the teacher assigns partners for a nature assignment. There is a boy in her class called Mason. He is also an outsider. His long hours spent alone mean, like Jubilee, he has a special affinity with their natural environment. Jubilee has a fascination with turtles and so the pair settle on this as the topic for their project. Even without words their friendship slowly blossoms.

Jubilee longs to find her mother. She sees a card with a mainland address. Filled with hope and anxiety Jubilee sneaks away and catches the ferry hoping to reunite with her mother and find answers to the most burning question - why did her mother abandon her?

Read this review for more plot details. This is a gentle book which will be perfect for sensitive readers. I highly recommend the writing of Patricia Reilly Giff. Pictures of Hollis Woods is one of my top choices for Middle Grade readers. It received a Newbery Honor in 2003.

I would follow Jubilee with Sweeping up the Heart by Kevin Henkes and an older, out of print title -  Rain May and Captain Daniel by Catherine Bateson.

One more thing.  About half way through the story the teacher tells a student about a shell she always looks for:

"It's called a junonia. It loops around itself with brown square markings. Maybe someday I'll find one."  I feel that way too.  Check out my review of Junonia by Kevin Henkes.

Bronze and Sunflower by Cao Wenxuan

Sunflower knew in her heart that this boy would rescue her.  She hadn't called out to him.  She hadn't made any gestures asking for help.  She had just stood on the boat, watching him.  
The look in her eyes was enough.

Life in rural China in the early 1970s was hard.  The cultural revolution bought so much change.  Peasant farmers endure a daily struggle against weather and plague.  Reading Bronze and Sunflower felt, at times, like riding roller coaster.  The are moments of happiness and joy and then things seem to change in an instant for example just as their crops are almost ready to harvest disaster strikes :

"Soon the shouts and screams woke the whole village. People leapt out of bed, ran outside and looked up at the sky. But there was no sky, just a seething mass of screeching locusts blocking out the early morning light.  ... Down they poured, like rain from a rain cloud."

Intellectuals are sent to be re-educated in the country.  Sunflower and her father are sent to Cadre School which is set up across the river from Damaidi. Her father loves her but he is forced to work long hours and attend meetings each evening so often they only see each other for a few precious minutes late at night.  Sadly her father dies.  Sunflower is taken across the river and sits in a rock in the village waiting for a new family to take her.  Bronze and his family are so poor but they are drawn to this little girl.  These scenes are so tense.  Another cruel father and his equally cruel son are also considering claiming this girl.

Bronze is the only son of one of the poorest families in Damaidi.  An accident as a young child has left him mute and so he has become isolated from the other village children. He spends his days assisting with growing and finding food for his family - mother, father and grandmother - Nainai - the Chinese word for Grandmother.  In one chapter you will read how the whole family work to make shoes from reeds and how this brave boy goes to the larger town to sell one hundred pairs.

Sunflower does go to live with Bronze and his family.  They sacrifice everything to send her to school and the two children become inseparable finding a special way to communicate then one day a message arrives that city officials are coming to take Sunflower away.

When you pick up Bronze and Sunflower be prepared to slow yourself right down.  The pace of this story feels like the plodding of the buffalo you see on the cover.  It may take you a chapter or two to 'get into the rhythm' of this writing but be patient - you will be richly rewarded with a beautifully crafted story.  Click on some of the review quotes below to read more.

Next month I am lucky to be attending the 12th Regional USBBY Conference.  The conference is entitled Radical Change Beyond Borders - The transforming power of Children's Literature in a Digital Age.  Bronze and Sunflower is one of the books on their reading list.

Thank goodness Walker Books saw value in having this Chinese book translated so that, yes, while it can be enjoyed by millions of Chinese children, now it can also travel across the world to be enjoyed by children in Australia, USA, UK along with France, Italy and Germany (see covers below).

Listen to an audio sample here.  Cao Wenxuan was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen medal at the IBBY congress in Auckland in 2016.  I was in the audience at this ceremony and Cao Wenxuan made an inspirational speech.  There are some interesting teaching ideas here.


The landscape Cao describes is beautiful — reed marshes stretching as far as the eye can see, a meandering river, a pretty village on the opposite bank — but Sunflower is alone and lonely, “like a solitary bird in a vast blue sky with nothing for company but the sound of its own beating wings.”  New York Times

It’s bold and unfamiliar. Touching and terrifying. Historical but somehow also timeless. It’s one of the best dang novels I’ve read for kids in a long time. Do you truly want your kids to be citizens of the world? Then hand that world to them. Give them this book.  Elizabeth Bird School Library Journal

Although not without times of grief and real hardship, Bronze and Sunflower’s lives are full of so much loveliness, happiness and kindness that this book, this story came as a welcome breath of fresh air, full of hope and a reminder that warmth and generosity can make for powerful storytelling just as much as angst and dystopia.   Zoe Playing by the Book

Readers of all ages should be prepared to laugh, cry, and sigh with satisfaction.  Kirkus

“That’s what I’m interested in, the continuity,” he added. “It doesn’t matter what the setting is; universal values and humanity always show through.”  Cao Wenxuan

White fur flying by Patricia MacLachlan

Beautifully told, quietly moving and 

completely satisfying.

A friend recently said to me that in our role as a Teacher-Librarian it is difficult to think about writing a book because we have the works of too many wonderful writers to compare with.  I understand how true this is when I read books (just a few names I could list more) by Kate Di Camillo, Isobelle Carmody, Odo Hirsch, Avi, Karen Hesse, Sharon Creech, Glenda Millard, EB White, Michelle Paver and the author of this book Patricia MacLachlan.

The quote above comes from Kirkus and I was thrilled to see they gave White Fur Flying a star review.

Phillip has moved in next door to Lena and Alice.  Their mother rescues Pyreenes dogs.  Phillip has stopped speaking.  His mother and father have left him with an aunt and uncle but they are not used to small boys and seem cold and distant although this is not their intention.  Lena and Alice invite Phillip over to their house and there is an immediate bond between the boy and the huge gentle dogs that live in their house. Phillip also meets a talking bird who is a new addition to the household recently bought home by their father who is a vet.

"Phillip laughed suddenly.  It was the only sound we'd heard from him. It had burst out of him, somehow, like music.  ... He reached out and patted May. She sniffed his face, making Phillip close his eyes happily."

Two new dogs arrive in the house and one, called Jack, is quite young.  A gate is left open.  It is night. The weather is wild.  Jack escapes. On this same name Phillip disappears.

This is one of those short books (112 pages) with a powerful story about kindness, healing and the importance of acceptance.  I loved White Fur Flying.  Look for it in our library today.

You might also enjoy Belle and Sebastien.  I also recommend every book by Patricia MacLachlan.  I recently talked about The Poet's Dog and Fly away.

It’s a book that explores the healing process 

and how people, and even animals, can help one another. 

The thing about jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

Surrounded by the cruelty of adolescence, Zu is awkward, smart, methodical, and driven by sadness. 

As humans we constantly seek answers.  When someone dies, especially a younger person, we want to know why and how and most importantly was there something we should have done to prevent this.

Franny and Suzy had been friends since elementary school.  One day her mum calls her inside and says "Franny Jackson drowned."  Suzy is obsessed by numbers.  These are just three words but these words begin a tumultuous internal dialogue which sees Suzy trying to make peace with her childhood 'friend' and her own mistakes of the past.

"None of it made sense. Not then, and not later that night when the Earth dipped toward the stars. Not the next morning when it rolled back around to sunlight again."

Suzy needs answers so she turns to science she also decides to become silent.  Her self imposed silence means finding the answer to this tragedy become very one sided.  There is no one to collaborate with - no other view points.  Suzy is utterly convinced the culprit is the Irukandji jellyfish and so her scientific mind sets about intensive research to find everything she can about this mysterious creature - hence the title 'The thing about jellyfish.'

The class have to present a science talk on a topic of their own choice.  Each chapter of The thing about Jellyfish begins with an aspect of the scientific method their teacher Mrs Turton expects them to use.  One day she shows the class a set of pictures of earth seen from space.

"Here I was, just one out of seven billion people, and people were just one species out of ten million and those ten million were just a tiny fraction of all the species that ever existed, and somehow all of fit onto that fleck of brown dust on the screen. And we were surrounded by nothingness."

There are three narratives in this story shown with different fonts. The present action where we read about Suzy, her family and her jellyfish research, childhood scenes in happier times when Suzy and Franny were best friends and the recent past when pressures of the peer group and feelings of alienation wrecked everything for Suzy.  The scenes where Franny's new friends reject Suzy and Suzy's own social confusions are quite confronting.

One of the bloggers I follow is Mrs Yingling and the part of her reviews I really appreciate is her final comment "What I really think".

So what do I really think about The thing about Jellyfish.   I knew I would cry in this book but really the tears were not a result of my deep emotional connection with Suzy and her terrible experience of the death of a close friend.  I admire her drive, her attention to detail and her deep research but I remain a little confused about Suzy.  I felt she may be on the autism spectrum because she was so obsessive about numbers and details and so confused by social situations but the final scenes made me revise this idea.  I am sure this is a book that readers over 12 will enjoy and perhaps relate to especially as they navigate their confusion with identity and peer expectations.

My big problem with this book, though,  is with the suggested readership. The New York Times says 9-12.  I totally disagree.  I think this is for very mature senior primary students but really it is even more suitable for junior High School students.  There are references in this book to same sex relationships and after an especially awful scene Suzy, who is twelve, finds her period has started. In contrast Kirkus say 12+ and I agree with this.

Here is an interview with the author.  You might also enjoy Counting by 7s and True (sort of).