The Big Picture, by Jenny B. Jones, revolves around teenager Katie Parker. When Katie’s mom arrives at her foster home out of the blue on the same night that Katie’s sort-of boyfriend, Charlie, tells her he’s hanging out with his ex again, Katie’s once perfectly ordered life goes down the drain. To make matters worse, the mayor is determined to close the town’s beloved drive-in theatre to put in a strip mall. As the day to move back in with her mom looms nearer, Katie is caught up in getting Charlie back, but when she finally does move, her problems only get worse.
In this third installment of the Katie Parker series, Jenny B. Jones incorporates a wide variety of trials for Katie. Toward the beginning of the novel, Katie’s obsession with some of her problems drags on; however, as the book progresses and Katie is put to the test in ever more serious or humorous ways, the story becomes vastly more interesting. Although it starts slow, The Big Picture makes a great comeback, leaving the reader delighted with the novel.
Review by Jane Muir