Jessica Character Analysis in Fish in a Tree

Jessica is Shay's best friend and, as Ally sees it, her shadow. She describes Jessica as having few personality traits or interests of her own, as her main goal seems to be following Shay and keeping her happy. Ally sees Jessica's decision to bring in a photo of Shay for a show-and-tell exercise as proof of this. This means that, like Shay, Jessica is mean and bullies everyone that Shay does—though Shay uses their bullying sessions to surreptitiously make fun of Jessica as well as their target. Jessica gradually becomes less comfortable going along with Shay's bullying, especially after it gets out that Shay charges for her friendship bracelets. After Mr. Daniels's lesson about famous people with dyslexia, Jessica and the rest of Shay's followers give back their friendship bracelets and Jessica begins to shut down Shay's attempts to bully others. She even apologizes to Ally for her poor treatment.

Jessica Quotes in Fish in a Tree

The Fish in a Tree quotes below are all either spoken by Jessica or refer to Jessica. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Dyslexia, Intelligence, and Learning Theme Icon

Besides that, Shay, Jessica, and some other girls all have these woven friendship bracelets. And I have never had the kind of friends who have matching bracelets, but I have always wanted them. It's like the bracelet tells the world that the person wearing it has someone who cares about them.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Jessica, Shay

Related Symbols: Friendship Bracelets

Page Number and Citation: 60

Explanation and Analysis:

I'm not perfect, but at least I'm not mean.

And then my heart sinks, because I realize that I just was.

I guess I did it because I was lonely. Now I know that there are worse things than being lonely.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Jessica, Albert, Shay

Page Number and Citation: 63

Explanation and Analysis:

“I laugh. “Uh, no, thanks. I'd rather wear handcuffs.”

I can't believe Shay charges her friends for something that's supposed to stand for loyalty and friendship. And I can't believe they paid.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Shay, Jessica

Related Symbols: Friendship Bracelets

Page Number and Citation: 132

Explanation and Analysis:

Jessica Character Timeline in Fish in a Tree

The timeline below shows where the character Jessica appears in Fish in a Tree. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Jessica brings a huge bouquet of flowers for Mrs. Hall's baby shower, while Max gives her... (full context)

Teaching, Mentoring, and Trust Theme Icon

Shay and Jessica laugh and ignore Mrs. Hall's admonitions while Ally wonders why she isn't used to this.... (full context)

Ally hears Shay and Jessica come into the restaurant. Shay feigns concern that Ally didn't return to class, and Ally... (full context)

While Mom is in the kitchen, Jessica and Shay laugh that Ally's mom is a waitress. Shay says that Ally could be... (full context)

...front of her with his hand held out. He introduces himself to her, causing Shay, Jessica, and their friends to laugh and say that he must not know about Ally. Mr.... (full context)

...of dirt or a bag of nothing. Shay goes first and talks about her horse. Jessica shows the class a picture of Shay, and Oliver brings a light bulb. As he... (full context)

...of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen, and drinks it. Shay whispers meanly with Jessica, and Ally explains that Shay has gotten sneakier about being mean since Mr. Daniels took... (full context)

...classmates. They contain two Japanese foods that she says might be spicy. Max, Keisha, and Jessica run to the sink for water after eating the wasabi pea, while Albert says with... (full context)

At lunch, Shay and Jessica invite Ally to sit with them. Ally doesn't want to, but she's tired of sitting... (full context)

Jessica points to Albert and everyone starts laughing. Ally doesn't understand why; Albert is dressed in... (full context)

That night, Mom opens Ally's bedroom door to check on her. Ally explains how Jessica and Shay roped her into making fun of Albert and says she feels awful. Mom... (full context)

...on the happy fact that all the girls get to carry flowers and ignores that Jessica's father donated them. (full context)

...is without opening the box. Everyone looks excited. Ally is put in a group with Jessica, Max, Oliver, and Suki. Ally considers asking to go to the nurse when she sees... (full context)

...and says the object is heavy. Oliver shouts that it might be a kangaroo and Jessicagives him a disgusted look that makes him shrink. When Ally gets the box, she discovers... (full context)

...an oversized marker, and Mr. Daniels stays to observe Ally's group with the fourth box. Jessica compliments Max as he turns the box around, and Oliver guesses the box contains a... (full context)

...a serious look on his face and insists that he's talking like that. Shay and Jessica stalk off and Oliver remembers that he hid a cookie in his desk after the... (full context)

...at school, Shay waits until Mr. Daniels walks into the hallway before whispering loudly to Jessica that yesterday, she saw Ally and Travis in a disgusting and run-down car. Ally tries... (full context)

...and Mr. Daniels compliments Shay and then quickly moves on. Later, Shay loudly whispers to Jessica that she's mad that Shay's mom is making her invite everyone, and she hopes some... (full context)

...the Butterfly Gardens for Shay's party. She notices girls from other classrooms as well as Jessica, all of whom are wearing friendship bracelets. Ally wonders if Keisha would like one. An... (full context)

...white. She spins the wheel and as the colors blur, they turn white. Everyone, even Jessica and Shay, say it's cool. Oliver asks if Ally is going to give the color... (full context)

As Ally sits down, she hears Jessica ask Shay for another friendship bracelet. Ally pretends not to listen as Shay says that... (full context)

...on their own. Ally asks to go into the hallway to escape the noise, though Jessica and Shay soon join her. They think the puzzle is dumb. Shay holds up signs... (full context)

...stupid, and says that Mr. Daniels is only nice because he feels bad for her. Jessica squeakily suggests they go back inside, but Shay snaps at her. Ally notes the fear... (full context)

Mr. Daniels asks the students if they have nominations for class president. Jessica nominates Shay and no one else is willing to run, given that Shay has made... (full context)

As Ally prepares to board her bus, Shay and Jessica stomp over and ask if Ally got the letter. Ally can't figure out why Shay... (full context)

...more like everyone else, but adds that she wouldn't want to act like Shay or Jessica. (full context)

Shay stomps off, but her followers only follow her halfheartedly. Jessica even jogs back and tells Ally that dyslexia is cool, that Ally is a good... (full context)

...of the month and the class applauds. Shay says something that Ally can't hear, but Jessica tells Shay to stop. (full context)

Fish in a Tree

Jessica Character Analysis

Jessica Quotes in Fish in a Tree

Chapter 11 Quotes

Chapter 24 Quotes

Jessica Character Timeline in Fish in a Tree