The Thing About Jellyfish

Suzy narrates a host of facts about jellyfish in this brief opening chapter to Part 3, sharing that jellyfish are among the oldest living species on the planet; as well, their species outlived all five mass extinctions that occurred since their earliest known existence: “Jellyfish are survivors” (49). Suzy compares the species to a bridge that spans the present day and earlier time periods. 

Suzy describes in this flashback chapter some of the uncomplicated ways that she and Franny demonstrate their friendship at age seven. Suzy is comfortable with Franny’s need to host their sleepover at Franny’s house (instead of Suzy’s), with Franny’s trouble reading, and with Suzy’s teacher’s recommendation that Suzy have other friends in addition to Franny. Suzy helps Franny feel better when Aubrey LaValley, a girl in their class, says that Franny “isn’t pretty or smart” (52). Suzy knows that she and Franny are perfectly happy being friends with each other.

Suzy and her mother meet Suzy’s father at the counselor’s office. Suzy’s parents are divorced, but her father lives locally and Suzy sees him each Saturday for dinner at Ming Palace restaurant. The counselor is a child psychologist called Dr. Legler. Suzy calls her “Dr.