I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980

In the novel I Survived: The Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980, Jessie Marlow is an 11-year-old girl from the fictional rural town of Cedar, set in the state of Washington. Jess lives with her mom near Mount St. Helens, a real mountain that actually did erupt in 1980. Through a series of unlucky chances, Jess becomes caught up in the eruption and its aftermath.

Jess is portrayed as a friendly, sensitive, and resilient girl who loves exploring the natural world. Her fondness for the mountain and interest in hiking make her eager to join her friends, Eddie and Sam, when they travel with their father to their fishing cabin. Jess inherited her passion for the outdoors from her late father, who died two years ago. Jess’s worry for her mom’s ongoing grief shows her sensitivity and maturity. As the narrative states, Jess was always “worrying about Mom, who seemed so lonely and worked way too hard. Those sad thoughts were always flickering at the edges of Jess’s mind” (8).

Jess’s interactions with Eddie and Sam show that she is a loyal and caring person who is highly committed to her friendships. She contributes to the relationship by always being eager for adventure, sharing her feelings and ideas, and protecting the twins in times of crisis.