Unfinished Portrait of Jessica

by Richard Peck

Book Overview

When Jessica's parents divorce and her father leaves, Jessica decides that the best way to punish her mother is to retreat to her room, a shrine to her glamorous traveling photographer dad. Then Jessica's mother offers to let her visit her father in Mexico for the holidays, at the fabulous house of her father's uncle Lucius, a famous painter. Jessica is thrilled. Once there, she falls under the spell of Lucius's home, and his Christmas guests, Brooke...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385305001
• ISBN13: 9780385305006
• Release Date: October 1991
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 162 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Excellent coming-of-age book

This book deals with Jessica, a young woman who resents her mother, idolizes her father, and tries hard to follow the teenage crowd. She is literally and figuratively stuck in a very small place, as she cannot acknowledge her father's part in her parents' divorce and stays holed up in her room much of the time. However, these things change when her mother sends her to Mexico to spend Christmas with her much-adored father. Once there, Jessica learns that there is more to life than following the crowds, that her father is not the perfect person that she imagines, and that her mother isn't so bad after all. Simply put, she grows up. In the bargain, she develops a relationship with an ailing great-uncle who teaches her to treasure the time she has, and to take advantage of opportunities when they show themselves. Peck's writing style is refreshingly unique. The descriptions of the Chicago cold and the Mexican heat are almost enough to make you shiver and sweat, and he does an excellent job of presenting the world through a young person's eyes. This is a great book, and I highly recommend it.

UNFINISHED PORTRAIT OF JESSICA

This was truly a great book. Even though I don't usually enjoy reading, I found this book exciting and although my parents aren't divorced and my father doesn't live in Mexico, I could totally relate to Jessica's feelings toward her parents and life. Peck made the book interesting but yet simple and easy to follow. If you are a girl and you are looking for a good book to read, this one is a winner!

Emotional, Intense, I Had To Write This Review

I read this book about 5 years ago in middle school. This book stands out in my mind more than any other. I just loved it. The characters were carefree, open, almost mystical. The exotic setting was fun, realistic, and has inspired me to want to move to Spain to live for a few years when I finnish college. The wonderful tales of communal living is fascinating and passionate! A must read for 11-14 year olds!