I Am Not Jessica Chen

A Chinese American high school senior who wants to be more like her perfect popular cousin gets more than she wished for in this haunting speculative novel by Liang (I Hope This Doesn’t Find You). Jenna Chen has been rejected from Harvard, an event that not only disappoints her immigrant parents but once again puts her in the shadow of her Harvard-bound cousin Jessica. Tired of feeling inferior, Jenna wishes upon a shooting star—“I wish I was Jessica Chen”—and suddenly finds herself trapped in Jessica’s body. Jenna finally gets a taste of what it’s like to live Jessica’s life, but all is not as it seems. Jessica’s journal reveals her true feelings and deep secrets of her own. And after receiving cryptic messages, Jenna learns that Jessica might not be as beloved as she thinks. Amid these revelations, Jenna contends with feelings for her childhood friend and crush until a larger problem surfaces: Jenna’s memories of her old life are fading. Via vivid prose, Liang grapples with identity, desire, and issues surrounding self-worth, immigrant parents’ expectations, and class divides. Ages 13–up. Agent: Kathleen Rushall, Andrea Brown Literary. (Jan.)