Jelly

'Pitiful Pete was sitting right on the edge of the Jellyfish, facing out towards the far coast, and a few of us had gathered to watch.' So opens this dystopian novel set in the not so distant future. Martha, the protagonist, is amongst a group of humans trapped on a lethal Jellyfish facing a shoreline where no humans appear to exist in the distant town. They keep trying to devise different ways to escape the Jellyfish but every time, they are thwarted by the long reach of its tentacles. Life on the Jellyfish is mundane and sticky with little to keep them engaged. Catching the fish tossed up onto the Jellyfish and finding ways to utilise the plastic washed up are their main forms of amusement, alongside plotting how to escape. If only they had one of the abandoned boats that bob tantalisingly on the distant shoreline... The occasional appearance of Kriks, strange crustaceous creatures who run raids in the deserted town, is not enough to deter the group whose multiple attempts range from farcical to fatal. Then, when a group of organised humans appear in the town, the inhabitants of the Jellyfish feel sure redemption is at hand. This is a beautifully written survival tale set at a time when climate change impact is finally recognised due to the raised sea levels, mutated animals, and disastrous effects of ocean plastics. A gripping story where you follow not only Martha, but also the other characters on board the Jellyfish with bated breath as they overcome both the physical and psychological effects of their new life. With scenes of violence and death, this is not for the fainthearted and most definitely a book for mature readers. 295 pages / Ages 14+ / Reviewed by Sharon Bolton, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 11+