Jessica Barksdale Inclán

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What People are Saying About "Her Daughter's Eyes"...

A well-written, thoughtful debut with wide crossover potential. Inclán never condescends and never judges, preferring to let her subtly drawn people speak for themselves. The understanding portrayal of her teenaged heroines--stubborn, careless, and fiercely honest--is remarkably astute. --© Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2001.

Jessica Barksdale Inclán's novel has a plot, pulled from contemporary headlines, that gives readers a true and unsettling view of American society and the low value placed on its children. While all the characters in the tale attempt to justify their actions, the essential selfishness of the adults comes through with disturbing clarity. Everyone pays a high price, but none more so than Kate and Tyler, whose youth and innocence are lost through the actions of adults who should have protected them--who, instead, use and abandon them. Powerful and poignant, Her Daughter's Eyes is an impressive debut. --Lois Faye Dyer, © Amazon.com, 2001

Inclán's first novel is a modern-day depiction of familial disintegration with offbeat twists and luminous sparks of hope. --Elsa Gaztambide, © Booklist, April 1, 2001.

A teenage pregnancy threatens to tear a troubled family apart in a debut novel as gutsy [and] appealing . . . as its heroines. As grueling as childbirth proves for Kate and Tyler, it is not nearly as painful as what follows. . . . [And] it is the plight of the teenage sisters, in all their clever foolishness, that strikes at the heart. . . Especially meaningful to young adult readers. --© Publisher's Weekly, May 7, 2001.

Inclán reveals a stunning command of language which brings her characters and their unfortunate situation to life. . . [Her] skill lies in taking what could easily seem like a soap opera drama and make the reader empathize with each of the characters. No one is perfect; each is humanly flawed. . . Inclán's insight into these lives is profoundly heartfelt. Over all her characters hangs the loss of the woman Deirdre. Seldom has this reviewer read a novel in which the presence of the absent person is more palpable. . . True to the picture she has developed, the author does not opt for a pat happy ending. Jessica Barksdale Inclan is definitely a writer whose forthcoming novels bear watching. --© Barbara Sloane, The Montclarion, August 31, 2001.

Inclán's debut novel takes readers on a journey of emotional truth, unsettling though it may be. This sensitive story is filled with well-drawn characters and hard-won personal growth. The language is especially vivid, and the depiction of loneliness and unresolved grief is particularly compelling. Because the book begins during the last term of Kate's pregnancy, the story is not about sex but about the damaging effects of suffering in silence and about responsibility, forgiveness, and ultimately, hope. . . . Hard to imagine it being any better written. --© Stefani Koorey, VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)

This intriguing novel, loosely based on a news article, relates the story--almost a case study--of a family struggling to deal with the death of Deirdre Phillips, wife and mother, who died of breast cancer two years earlier. . . . The reader can only feel compassion for these characters who consistently seem to make the wrong choices. The story is complex and sad . . . . This entry in the New American Library "Fiction for the Way We Live" series is both engaging and informative. --© Susan G. Allison, KLIATT, September 2001

"A haunting, compelling debut novel that takes the reader on an emotional roller-coaster ride. Jessica Barksdale Inclán is an author to watch." --New York Times bestselling author KRISTIN HANNAH

"An exquisitely poignant look into the heart of a troubled family. A beautifully etched portrait of loss, love and family strength." --New York Times bestselling author DEBORAH SMITH

"Jessica Barksdale Inclán brings a profound understanding of human nature to her characters--each is flawed, each is heroic, and their lives are comic and tragic, often simultaneously." --New York Times bestselling author SALLY MANDEL

"Jessica Barksdale Inclán's finely written novel, Her Daughter's Eyes, is poignant, sharply introspective and thought provoking. Every parent of a teenager and indeed, every teenager, should read this work with care. The unique questions posed within these pages will be remembered and talked about for years." --DOROTHEA BENTON FRANK, best-selling author of Sullivan's Island.

Read Reviews of Jessica's Fifth Novel, "Walking with Her Daughter"

Read Reviews of Jessica's Fourth Novel, "One Small Thing"

Read Reviews of Jessica's Third Novel, "When You Go Away"

Read Reviews of Jessica's Second Novel, "The Matter of Grace"

Read Reviews of Jessica's First Novel, "Her Daughter's Eyes"

Contact Jessica's Agent:
Mel Berger, Senior Vice President, William Morris Agency, Inc.
1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019
212.903.1147, FAX 212.303.1418
MMB@WMA.COM

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