Just like a jellyfish, the flesh is there but it’s missing the skeleton

Who would think you could write an entire book about people living on top a giant floating jellyfish? Clare Rees did. This story has a unique and whimsical premise that immediately got me hooked. And I was not let down when I started the first pages, by immediately getting caught into a very intriguing post-apocalyptic waterworld-like setting following a group of survivors.

I struggled getting any attachments to the characters in the book, but perhaps a younger reader could empathize more with the teenage protagonists. Despite that, I enjoyed learning about this strange futuristic world where the oceans (full of plastic pollution) have risen. Every chapter seems to explain a little more about how humanity got to where it is, but in the end I did feel wanting a little more history and explanations. Even though I was interested and somewhat captivated by this book, there was a point towards 80% in where I was ready to put it down. I won’t lie, I struggled to get through the last 20%. If it weren’t for that, I might consider a 5-star instead of 4-star rating.

All in all, it has a interesting plot with a unique setting (I mean, hard to beat the top of a giant jellyfish) that skims the surface of today’s environmental issues. I am sure a lot of young readers will enjoy!