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lenahe's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
4.25
This was one crazuly book, but I kind of liked it. The whole concept is crazy, and the characters are too real,particularly the teenagers are very well written.
I loved the humor undercurrent, and the audiobook narrator was perfect.
I was expecting some more profound theme or plot underneath, and there are moments that are very inspired, but it's also very light, so I think it let's the reader run with it however they want to.
I loved the humor undercurrent, and the audiobook narrator was perfect.
I was expecting some more profound theme or plot underneath, and there are moments that are very inspired, but it's also very light, so I think it let's the reader run with it however they want to.
carissatheluca's review against another edition
3.0
I have a lot of complicated feelings about Jelly.
On one hand: I think Rees did a beautiful job developing the conditions for this post-apocalyptic jellyfish ride. Sure, I had to suspend my disbelief more than I usually prefer to and that often rankled with the obvious real-world callbacks, but it worked. Kind of. It was entertaining, at least: plastic bag wallpaper, a bottle cap rugby ball, math lessons written in fish guts! Climate change and the world ending! Count me in for that ride (clearly, as I finished the book). The dialogue was magnificent, particularly in developing each of the vaguely described protagonists. It was truly the only way to meet these trapped people, as they didn’t do a whole lot of anything for a very, very large portion of the book.
They whined. So much. For good reason, don’t get me wrong, but ye gods.
On the other hand: a compelling mystery and quirky details aren’t enough. If your entire story banks on the most embarrassingly convenient plot twist realization ever… you’ve already lost me. It doesn’t matter how delicious the ending is: I’ve long since checked out. Jelly is already a short book; I really shouldn’t wish during my entire read that it were shorter. Everything was s o. s l o w. And not even in a compelling, fascinating soliloquies and asides, new forays into the human psyche!, kind of way. I was bored.
I’ll give Rees this: she has a brilliant, empathetic mind. She tricked me into caring about Jelly by giving me a mystery I couldn’t give up on and characters I had to enjoy, regardless of how frustrated I was by everything else around it, and she earned two stars just for that. The other star is for not making me read anything else.
On one hand: I think Rees did a beautiful job developing the conditions for this post-apocalyptic jellyfish ride. Sure, I had to suspend my disbelief more than I usually prefer to and that often rankled with the obvious real-world callbacks, but it worked. Kind of. It was entertaining, at least: plastic bag wallpaper, a bottle cap rugby ball, math lessons written in fish guts! Climate change and the world ending! Count me in for that ride (clearly, as I finished the book). The dialogue was magnificent, particularly in developing each of the vaguely described protagonists. It was truly the only way to meet these trapped people, as they didn’t do a whole lot of anything for a very, very large portion of the book.
They whined. So much. For good reason, don’t get me wrong, but ye gods.
On the other hand: a compelling mystery and quirky details aren’t enough. If your entire story banks on the most embarrassingly convenient plot twist realization ever… you’ve already lost me. It doesn’t matter how delicious the ending is: I’ve long since checked out. Jelly is already a short book; I really shouldn’t wish during my entire read that it were shorter. Everything was s o. s l o w. And not even in a compelling, fascinating soliloquies and asides, new forays into the human psyche!, kind of way. I was bored.
I’ll give Rees this: she has a brilliant, empathetic mind. She tricked me into caring about Jelly by giving me a mystery I couldn’t give up on and characters I had to enjoy, regardless of how frustrated I was by everything else around it, and she earned two stars just for that. The other star is for not making me read anything else.
rachael_amber's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
oliviaisgreen's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Honestly, this book reads more like middle grade than ya, aside from some minor swearing and sex jokes. I did enjoy reading it, but I wasn’t like super compelled to finish it or anything. I did love Kate and Martha and I was hoping Martha and James would have a romance. My biggest complaint is that the characters ages are never stated and I can’t even tell if they’re preteens or fully fledged teens.
tiffanyvda's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.25
poptartnihilist's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting and fun read with quite a unique premise built off the global crisis we are currently dealing with (climate change). I enjoyed it, but there would have to be a bit more to the story for me to give it anymore than 3.5 stars. A quick read that is definitely worth the time it takes.
sorrel29's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
draculaura's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
4.0
What a wonderfully weird book. It is exactly what you'd expect: a group of people are stranded on a giant jellyfish (although whether or not it's a jellyfish in the truly scientific sense is a topic of hot debate) and are determined to escape. This is probably the most light-hearted post-apocalyptic story I've ever read. Instead of rivalries, alliances, and betrayals that typically coincide with dystopians, there is almost a celebration of the mundane. When you're stuck on a massive squishy monster, it's easy to get bored, so you gotta do what you can to find enjoyment, from plastic bag fashion to jelly rugby.
It wasn't until near the end of the book that I realized the jellyfish is not only a metaphor for climate change, but also for childhood. The heroes of our story are four teens of indeterminate age and even though they're constantly referred to as "children" and dismissed just as quickly, they are the brains behind all the plans that actually work. And just like the environmental crisis of today, we place all of the burden on young people to carry on, yet refuse to take them seriously because of their age. Won't somebody please think of the children...because we don't want to.
The future is scary. It's easy to look back at the past and fool ourselves into think it was safer and happier and secure, but of course it wasn't. Things definitely aren't safer now, so maybe they never were. What changes are our perceptions of danger. Choking hazards aren't really s big deal for adults, but that's a while different story for a toddler. Jellyfish aren't so terrifying right now, but maybe one day they will be.
It wasn't until near the end of the book that I realized the jellyfish is not only a metaphor for climate change, but also for childhood. The heroes of our story are four teens of indeterminate age and even though they're constantly referred to as "children" and dismissed just as quickly, they are the brains behind all the plans that actually work. And just like the environmental crisis of today, we place all of the burden on young people to carry on, yet refuse to take them seriously because of their age. Won't somebody please think of the children...because we don't want to.
The future is scary. It's easy to look back at the past and fool ourselves into think it was safer and happier and secure, but of course it wasn't. Things definitely aren't safer now, so maybe they never were. What changes are our perceptions of danger. Choking hazards aren't really s big deal for adults, but that's a while different story for a toddler. Jellyfish aren't so terrifying right now, but maybe one day they will be.
emilyyyrich's review against another edition
1.0
I really didn’t enjoy this book.
I picked it up on the recommendation of a website I trust (desperately wishing I’d checked the reviews on here too) and because I love a dystopian novel, but I found this really disappointing.
I don’t want to write a long review, but here are a few of the things I didn’t like about this book.
Lack of backstory: we’re told that two types of sea monsters emerged due to climate change, but not a lot else. In some parts, it seems like they’ve been on the jellyfish for nearly as long as they can remember. In others, it insinuates they haven’t done a winter before on there. We’re also told very little about how they live day-to-day on the jellyfish (except for toileting, which is brought up frequently). Obviously the idea is unrealistic, but I feel like it could have been brought to life a lot more with some more specific details.
Main character: she was irritating and bossy, and even though she was a kid and had no real reasoning behind her decisions, everyone just seemed to go with it.
Other characters: aside from the fact that most were completely undeveloped, and even the main four had not a lot about them except that they were ‘typical teenagers’ who really only cared about shopping and fart jokes, the other characters didn’t even keep to their MO. They spend half the time defending the children and keeping them safe, and then ditch them at the first sight of an emergency.
Random, irrelevant events: the crime fighters with multi-coloured hair who then appear nowhere else again? What are they about?! And the random sex which adds literally nothing to the story and isn’t mentioned again?
I picked it up on the recommendation of a website I trust (desperately wishing I’d checked the reviews on here too) and because I love a dystopian novel, but I found this really disappointing.
I don’t want to write a long review, but here are a few of the things I didn’t like about this book.
Lack of backstory: we’re told that two types of sea monsters emerged due to climate change, but not a lot else. In some parts, it seems like they’ve been on the jellyfish for nearly as long as they can remember. In others, it insinuates they haven’t done a winter before on there. We’re also told very little about how they live day-to-day on the jellyfish (except for toileting, which is brought up frequently). Obviously the idea is unrealistic, but I feel like it could have been brought to life a lot more with some more specific details.
Main character: she was irritating and bossy, and even though she was a kid and had no real reasoning behind her decisions, everyone just seemed to go with it.
Other characters: aside from the fact that most were completely undeveloped, and even the main four had not a lot about them except that they were ‘typical teenagers’ who really only cared about shopping and fart jokes, the other characters didn’t even keep to their MO. They spend half the time defending the children and keeping them safe, and then ditch them at the first sight of an emergency.
Random, irrelevant events: the crime fighters with multi-coloured hair who then appear nowhere else again? What are they about?! And the random sex which adds literally nothing to the story and isn’t mentioned again?
stacyschuttler's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting concept. Great imagery. Terrible ending. More of a nothing ending.