Bridge to Terabithia
Katherine Paterson
Like Suzy's story, it follows a child who loses a close friend and must work out how to keep living. Its honest handling of sudden loss will feel familiar to fans of the source book.
12 books to read next
Books Like The Thing About Jellyfish
If you loved The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
Readers who love The Thing About Jellyfish usually respond to its quiet, honest voice and the way it treats grief with curiosity rather than sentimentality. Suzy's refusal to accept a senseless death drives a story that mixes sharp scientific wonder with a sense of loneliness and slow, earned hope. The pace is gentle, the narration close and thoughtful, and the emotional payoff comes from small moments of connection. These picks share those qualities for middle-grade readers.
Grief and friendship
Counting by 7s
Holly Goldberg Sloan
A brilliant, unusual girl faces a sudden loss and rebuilds her life among unexpected people. Its mix of grief, quirky characters and hopeful community echoes the emotional arc of The Thing About Jellyfish.
Mockingbird
Kathryn Erskine
A young narrator with a different way of seeing the world must make sense of a devastating death. Its direct, perceptive voice and focus on grief match what readers loved about Suzy's search for answers.
Quirky, lonely narrators
Because of Winn-Dixie
Kate DiCamillo
A lonely girl finds connection in an unexpected friendship after a summer of change. Its gentle tone and small-town warmth suit readers who loved the quiet emotional honesty of The Thing About Jellyfish.
The Thing About Luck
Cynthia Kadohata
A spirited girl travels with her family and learns to face hard truths about loss and belonging. Its heartfelt, understated voice and road-trip structure will appeal to readers who enjoyed Suzy's journey.
Wonder
R. J. Palacio
A boy who has always been treated as different tries to find his place among new classmates. Its warm, empathetic narration and focus on kindness will resonate with readers who connected with Suzy.
Science and cosmic wonder
Wonderstruck
Brian Selznick
Two children separated by decades search for a missing parent in a story that blends words and pictures. Its sense of wonder about the world and the people who shape us echoes The Thing About Jellyfish.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
A young boy uses science and determination to solve a problem that threatens his family. Its real-world curiosity and hope suit readers who loved Suzy's fascination with how the natural world works.
No Cover
A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L'Engle
A girl searches across the universe for her missing father, facing fear and loss with curiosity. Its blend of science, emotion and cosmic wonder will appeal to readers drawn to the source book's sense of the universe.
Journeys beyond home
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Grace Lin, Janet Song
A young girl sets out on a quest that is part adventure and part search for meaning. Its gentle pace and thoughtful reflection on family and loss suit readers who enjoyed Suzy's travels.
The night diary
Veera Hiranandani
A girl writes letters to her dead mother as she travels through a turbulent journey and finds her own voice. Its quiet emotional depth and focus on grief match the source book's tone.
Hello Universe
Erin Entrada Kelly
Four children on the edge of their own worlds find each other after a surprising event. Its warm, funny and hopeful portrait of friendship will appeal to readers who loved the connections in The Thing About Jellyfish.
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