The Thing About Jellyfish

 I've been reading Ali Benjamin's novel The Thing About Jellyfish. So far, I have only read the first three sections, but I am completely hooked on this story.

So far, I have noticed how Benjamin utilizes descriptive language throughout the text. The images she creates with the detail she uses gives a true sense of how Suzy, the main character, feels throughout each chapter. Using strong diction like "grotesque" gives the reader a picture of who or what is being described. 

I have also noticed the running metaphor that Benjamin creates of Suzy being the jellyfish. Reading as a writer, I think think this is a great way to keep the interest of the audience, and it also creates a feeling of anticipation for the reader. Since I have not gotten very far within the book, I am still waiting to find out why Suzy continues to compare herself to the jellyfish. 

The use of flashbacks fills the audience in on important details of the story that happened prior to the present day of the novel. I appreciated this because this gave me a better understanding of the events that led up to the conflict Suzy faces throughout the story. In other novels I have read, the use of flashbacks threw me off, but with The Thing About Jellyfish, I am glad the author incorporated the detail.

As Dr. Kingsley mentioned in her own blog post about Benjamin's novel, the author clearly did an extensive amount of research about jellyfish to be able to tell this story. Without this research, the novel would be lacking a large portion of its focus.

With this novel, I could teach a mini-lesson on using leads in a narrative. Each of the chapters I have read so far does an excellent job of "hooking" the reader. One opening of text I would use in particular would be:

"During the first three weeks of seventh grade, I'd learned one thing above all else: a person can become invisible by simply staying quiet." 

This section of text is the opening of the first chapter in the whole book. Instantly, the reader's attention is grabbed, leaving them wanting to read more. For a mini-lesson, I would take this quote, or others like it, and have the students practice "hooking" their audience. With this, they could practice introducing the main idea of their narrative, without giving the reader too little or too much information. 

This novel would be a great mentor text because of the way that the author can leave the reader wanting to read more. I cannot wait to continue reading to find out what happens with Suzy and the jellyfish. 

Harbor Me

"Once there were six of us. Once we circled around each other, and listened. Or maybe what matters most is that we were heard."

I just finished reading Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson. I had been seeing many teachers sharing their thoughts on the book, and I wanted to read it for myself.

I had a relative idea of what the book would be about, as I have read other works by Jacqueline Woodson before, but I had no idea that this book would take me on such an emotional journey. 

Six kids. A group of six "special" boys and girls are put into their own classroom to sit and talk freely about anything. In the ARTT room (A Room To Talk), these six students are allowed to discuss things the would never tell anyone else. 

As these students sit in a circle, they listen to each other tell stories about the cruelty of life. As I read each student's story, my heart shattered. Each of these students is facing a challenge that no child should ever have to experience. But as they each share their story, the others sit in the circle and listen and support each other. Although it is heartbreaking that these children are going through such unimaginable situations, it is heartwarming to see them supporting each other, harboring each other. 

I loved reading this book. Jacqueline Woodson does such a great job of giving a voice to each of the characters, while at the same time, giving a voice to those whom these characters stand in place of. These characters are the inspirational voices of the men, women, and children who experience similar realities of life. This is a fantastic book with a powerful message, and I encourage you all to read it.