The Jellyfish

English version $29.95

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.

Awards and mentions

  • Winner – Prix des libraires du Québec 2024 (Bande dessinée Québec)

  • Winner – Bédéis Causa Awards 2023 (Grand prix Québec BD)

  • Winner – Prix de la critique ACBD de la bande dessinée québécoise 2023

  • Winner – Prix BD adulte 2023 awarded by the Salon du livre de Trois-Rivières

  • Nominee – Prix BD des collégiens 2023

  • Nominee – Bédélys Awards 2023 (Québec)

Reviews

  • “Boum’s sinuous artwork makes Odette’s world pulse with life. The settings feel lived-in, and her charmingly designed characters are constantly moving, changing, and emoting. The result is a graceful and empathetic story about learning to see what’s important.”

    — Publishers Weekly
  • “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)
  • “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
  • “For the curious, I came away from The Jellyfish sobbing… I was unprepared for how quickly it came upon me and how multilayered it turned out to be. Waves of emotions passed through me and I… found myself changed for the better, with one more book to recommend.”

    — Elias Rosner, Multiversity Comics
  • “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 in a relatively short span of pages, 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)

Details

ISBN
978-2-925114-30-7
Release Date
May 07 2024
Pages
228
Language
English