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Overview
Three children walked away from the cottages on the edge of town toward Berwick Waters. Later that day, only two of them came back. . . . Alice Tully knows exactly what happened that spring day six years ago, though it's still hard for her to believe it. She'll never be able to forget, even though she's trying to lead a normal life—she has a job, friends, and a boyfriend whom she adores. But Alice's past is dangerous, and violent, and sad . . . and it's about to rip her new life apart. Includes a reader's guide.
Synopsis
Jennifer Jones has served her time for the murder of her best friend ... but can she ever return to "normal"?
Publishers Weekly
British novelist Cassidy's well-crafted tale of crime and punishment delves into the mind of a child killer and explores the path she takes once she repays her debt to society. Jennifer Jones, nicknamed JJ, never knew her father and was repeatedly emotionally abused and abandoned by her mother. One hot morning, when she is 10, she takes a walk to a nearby reservoir with two friends and returns hours later, leaving one friend behind forever. After spending six years in custody, Jennifer is released, given an alias and helped to forge a new life, but her past stands resolutely in her way. The story unfolds in present time with flashbacks blended seamlessly into the narrative, neatly fueling the growing suspense. When the full details of the murder are revealed, the moment is shocking in its simplicity. Cassidy consistently demonstrates that the abuse inflicted upon Jennifer during her childhood has left her detached, incapable of experiencing a range of emotions and doubting herself deserving of happiness and love. While psychologically astute, this portrayal keeps readers at a distance. It falls instead to the novel's structure, with its well-timed revelations, and to a finely tuned story line about the cat-and-mouse-games that the media plays with Jennifer, to hold the audience's interest. Ages 14-up. (Oct.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationEditorials
From Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble Discover Great New WritersGrowing up in today's media-driven world, teenagers may be forgiven for thinking that everyone's life is public property. Reporters and photographers relentlessly pursue the individuals involved in a scandal until names like Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears become household names. Anne Cassidy, the author of Looking for JJ, gets an A+ for exploring the price of our passion for scandal, revealing that the effects of such unwanted attention are far more insidious than you'd think.
Looking for JJ is the story of Alice Tully, a 17-year-old who works in a coffee shop, lives in an apartment, has an attentive boyfriend, and is looking forward to starting college. She's a regular teenager, except for her obsession with a particular news story. Seven years earlier, 10-year-old Jennifer Jones was convicted of murdering a friend, and news reports are surfacing that Jennifer, having served her time, was released from prison under an assumed identity. Reporters and private detectives are determined to find the former Jennifer -- which terrifies Alice, because she is Jennifer.
A sophisticated read, Looking for JJ raises numerous moral issues. Is Jennifer's upbringing an excuse for her criminal behavior? Should she be able to "walk away" from her past? And does the public have a right to know where she is now? One thing is certain: After reading Looking for JJ, you'll never look at a juicy tabloid the same way again. (Holiday 2007 Selection)
From the Publisher
"Dark, chilling and clever."—Celia Rees, author of The Wish House and Blood Sinister"Compassionate, unsensational and unflinching."—The Guardian (London)"A skillful tale. . . . The ethical issues and solid, suspenseful storytelling provide many discussion possibilities."—Booklist "A sympathetic look at someone who has done the unspeakable and now has to live with the results."—KLIATTPublishers Weekly
British novelist Cassidy's well-crafted tale of crime and punishment delves into the mind of a child killer and explores the path she takes once she repays her debt to society. Jennifer Jones, nicknamed JJ, never knew her father and was repeatedly emotionally abused and abandoned by her mother. One hot morning, when she is 10, she takes a walk to a nearby reservoir with two friends and returns hours later, leaving one friend behind forever. After spending six years in custody, Jennifer is released, given an alias and helped to forge a new life, but her past stands resolutely in her way. The story unfolds in present time with flashbacks blended seamlessly into the narrative, neatly fueling the growing suspense. When the full details of the murder are revealed, the moment is shocking in its simplicity. Cassidy consistently demonstrates that the abuse inflicted upon Jennifer during her childhood has left her detached, incapable of experiencing a range of emotions and doubting herself deserving of happiness and love. While psychologically astute, this portrayal keeps readers at a distance. It falls instead to the novel's structure, with its well-timed revelations, and to a finely tuned story line about the cat-and-mouse-games that the media plays with Jennifer, to hold the audience's interest. Ages 14-up. (Oct.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information