Jess's greatest passion is art. He spends hours drawing and sketching, and he is often seen carrying around his sketchbook. Jess has to walk through the woods to get home from school, where his creative spirit is unleashed and his imagination takes flight. He envisions a secret kingdom called Terabithia, which he shares with his best friend, Leslie Burke. Jess creates an enchanting world in Terabithia where their imaginations can run wild and they can face and conquer their fears.
Despite his shy and introverted demeanor, Jess is a loyal and caring friend to Leslie. He is also fiercely protective of Terabithia, the magical realm that he and Leslie have created together. When tragedy strikes, Jess must draw upon his inner strength and the lessons he learned in Terabithia to cope with the loss and find healing.
Jess's character serves as a reminder of the power of imagination, friendship, and the extraordinary things that can be achieved when one dares to dream and believes in the impossible.