Book Review: “The Jellyfish” by Boum

“The Jellyfish” by Boum (2024)

Genre: Fiction, Graphic Novel, LGBTQ

Page Length: 219 pages (electronic review edition)

Synopsis:

Odette is a twenty-something year old with their own place, a steady job at a local bookstore, an adorable pet rabbit, and a budding crush on one of their customers. But Odette is haunted by something only they can see: a jellyfish that’s floating in their eye, blocking their vision. It’s a seemingly minor annoyance…until the jellyfish starts multiplying.

Showcasing stunning and inventive artwork by Boum (Boumeries), The Jellyfish is a tour-de-force of graphic storytelling, a powerful, occasionally terrifying story of facing the thing that we fear the most and finding a light to guide us through the darkness.

Review:

If you enjoy visually stunning graphic novels, powerful storytelling, and memorable characters you are in for a treat with The Jellyfish.

The story told from the perspective of Odette follows their viewpoints and journey of trying to navigate the challenges of jellyfish floating in their eyes. It felt like a coming-of-age story as we traverse through the four seasons and Odette tries to figure out their place in life. Unsure of what they want to do in life and finding solace while they work in the bookstore they try to find some hope in what seems to be a situation with no clarity. There is a romance that blooms between Odette in a customer which is very sweet, but also captures the awkwardness of a new relationship as well as the complexities of it when things become more serious.

I loved the detailed artwork in this graphic novel and how it immerses the reader in Odette’s story. The use of jellyfish as a metaphor for their vision issues as it starts to increasingly deteriorate was very impactful. As the reader sees the multiplication of the jellyfish there is an overwhelming sense of fear and dread as we know the inevitable is about to come. The novel also portrays the uncertainty of being in your twenties and trying to establish independence from your parents as well as start out on your journey.

I felt like this graphic novel does a good job of representing the complexities of a disability from trying to grasp to new life changes as well as learning how to accept help from others. The story is thoughtful and written with care for a delicate topic that has many ways of being represented through storytelling. I felt The Jellyfish provided a unique and honest interpretation of what it’s like to lose your senses. It’s an emotional read that takes down the stereotype around disabled individuals through beautiful artwork and solid storytelling.

Final Verdict:

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.