The Jellyfish by Boum

Winner of the Eisner Award, Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize Honor Book, Doug Wright Nipper Award, Graphic Medicine Award, and more!

“A deeply moving meditation on disability, diversity, and joy.”—Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

“One of the most beautiful graphic novels I’ve ever read… The Jellyfish is exquisite.” —Kate Leth, author of Mall Goth

“What an accomplishment! This book is beautiful… I loved this character and this story!” —Lucy Knisley, author of Relish

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.

Featured on best of the year lists from the American Library Association, New York Public Library, the Comics Beat, and more!

***

“A deeply moving meditation on disability, diversity, and joy.”
—Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

“Although it is specifically grounded in the author’s own experiences, the story feels universal. Deeply human and ultimately optimistic, The Jellyfish is an important entry in the world of graphic medicine, and a remarkable graphic novel by any standard.”
—Andrew Woodrow-Butcher, Quill & Quire (Starred Review)

“Boum goes beyond simply telling stories about stereotype-defeating disabled characters to communicating what it is like to experience the world with blindness. An amazing and essential addition to high-school, academic, and public library collections.”
—Victoria Rahbar, Booklist (Starred Review)

“Where words fail to convey the frustration of Odette’s predicament, the artwork speaks for it. The graphic novel form is the only way to tell Odette’s story, and Boum is the only artist for the job. The Jellyfish is both comforting and sad. It is both timeless and present. It is a real one.”
—Timothy Thomas, Independent Book Review (Starred Review)

“Visually and in writing, Boum has created a story full of diversity and rich in humanity. It’s crafted with immense care and talent, and… manages to take the reader on a deeply emotional journey that is absolutely worth the time it takes to experience. In the end, my review on this book is simply ‘read it.’ You won’t be disappointed.”
—Josh Gauthier, No Flying No Tights (Starred Review)

“Not only is The Jellyfish one of the most beautiful graphic novels I’ve ever read, it goes straight for the heart and doesn’t let up. Boum is a master of her craft… The Jellyfish is exquisite.”
—Kate Leth, author of Mall Goth

“What an accomplishment! This book is beautiful and cool and such a fascinating look into the denial and struggle one goes through when dealing with sensory degradation. I loved this character and this story!”
—Lucy Knisley, author of Relish

“This is such a unique and clever visual interpretation of what it’s like to literally lose your senses. And Boum’s thoughtful, skillful linework and endearing character designs are a treat for the eyes, no pun intended.”
—Danielle Corsetto, author of Elephant Town

“…A fictional tale of rare sensitivity and dazzling graphic inventiveness.”
—Jean-Dominic Leduc, Le Journal de Québec

“…The finale, in particular, is a thing of beauty… It’s a really lovely comic.”
—Claudia Hébert, Culture Club, Radio Canada