I Am Not Jessica Chen

Jenna Chen is the protagonist and narrator of the book. She is a high school senior and the only daughter of Chinese immigrant parents. Besides her parents, Jenna’s inner circle consists of her uncle and aunt; their daughter, Jessica Chen; and her father’s best friend’s son, Aaron Cai.

Especially at the beginning of the book, Jenna is characterized by a deep dissatisfaction with her life. She embodies the theme of Navigating Comparison and Expectation in the way she is constantly compared to her brilliant and accomplished cousin, Jessica. This comparison is fueled by Jenna’s parents, who suggest that Jenna ought to use her cousin as an example; however, Jenna herself participates in this comparison by feeling deeply envious of all aspects of her cousin’s life. Jessica’s family is wealthier than Jenna’s, and Jessica is talented, academically accomplished, socially well-liked, and conventionally attractive. Jenna, by contrast, sees herself as unremarkable and unaccomplished. Her dissatisfaction stems from her belief that she is just not good enough, and that this lies at the root of all of her life’s disappointments.

Part of Jenna’s low self-worth is also a function of the highly competitive environment she is in, especially at school.