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.
From: POW POW
Notes on This Title
The main character of this title experiences difficulties with vision which the author has stated was inspired by her own eye problems. The official summary of this work describes the focal character using they/them pronouns; within the text the character never states a gender identity or preferred pronouns.
A queer woman with dark skin is a prominent supporting character.
Awards
Winner, Bédéis Causa – Grand Prix Québec BD 2023 (Best Book)
Winner, Prix de la critique ACBD – Best Book 2023
Winner, Trois-Rivières Book Fair – Best Book 2023
Finalist, Prix des Libraires Quebec – Best Graphic Novel 2024
Finalist, Prix BD des collégiens – Best Graphic Novel 2024
Finalist, Bédélys Award – Best Book Quebec 2023
Booklist Starred Review – April 2024
Les Libraires Recommend – Selection January 2023
Reviews
“A deeply moving meditation on disability, diversity, and joy.” (Source: Kirkus Reviews)
Interviews
Broken Frontier: ““I Feel Like ‘The Jellyfish’ is the Most Personal Book I’ve Ever Made” — An Interview with Boum on Her Pow Pow Press Graphic Medicine Story“