Do (or did) you have a relative you are (or were) constantly nagged to be like? The one who always left you in the dust academically, athleticly, socially, or all of the above with better looks thrown in? If so you'll find yourself rooting for Jenna, protagonist of Ann Liang's I Am Not Jessica Chen.
Jenna and golden girl Jessica are first cousins. The families get together frequently. Jessica's parents often have something new to brag on. Just before a family get together at Jessica's house Jenna gets the heartbreaking news that she's been rejected by Harvard and is afraid to tell her parents...
...leaving them to learn in the worst possible place. Jessica, of course, has been accepted by Harvard and all the other Ivies she's applied to. On the surface they're nothing but happy for their niece...
...but back it's all blame and shame on their only child whom they've burdened with all their expectations...
...You can hardly blame Jenna for wishing on a shooting 🌠 to become her cousin...
...Jenna wakes up in--holy shades of Freaky Friday--Jessica's body the next morning. Becoming the golden girl seems like a pretty good deal at first. But Jenna quickly learns how impossible it is to live up to the world's expectations of Jessica...
...also Jenna has seemingly disappeared. Everyone including her parents is forgetting she ever existed...
...What if Jenna wants to go back to being herself and it's just not possible?
On a purrrsonal note, I'm probably about halfway through the summer to winter clothes swap. It will take awhile to finish because I'm not missing out on any chance to be outside in the fresh air and sunshine with my beautiful flowers.
A great big shout out goes out to UMaine students, staff, and faculty with best wishes for a refreshing October break.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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