Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17705 in Books
• Published on: 2005-02-18
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Synopsis
A gripping and emotionally searing novel from a talented author, Looking for JJ explores the circumstances and motives behind the murder of a child - by her friend. Six years later, JJ has now been released, and has a new identity. But is there any way that she can lead a "normal" life?

Customer Reviews

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
How well do you know the people around you? How do you know they are not hiding a huge secret like their past?

This is the second book I've read recently that casts light on how murderers who are children fit into society after serving time for their crime. Anne Cassidy's new book, LOOKING FOR JJ, will keep your interest until the very end. Not only does the author give details about what happened but she lays the framework as to possible causes of why it happened -- because that is just as important. I actually found myself feeling sorry for Jennifer, the girl who committed the crime, wishing it hadn't happened to her.

Michele Livingstone is dead. She died six years ago at the hands of her friend, JJ. Jennifer Jones has paid for what happened to Michele. There is no denying that Jennifer is responsible for Michele's death, but while reading the book I came to the conclusion that she wasn't the only one to blame. Is there one thing that controls when and how aggressive someone becomes? I really believe that genetic factors may contribute to behavior, but if a child is engaging in delinquent behavior it is probably due to peer influences and lapses in parenting.

Jen's home life while growing up wasn't exactly the "Leave it to Beaver" atmosphere. Her mom certainly wouldn't win any parenting awards and from an early age Jen learned how to get by on her own, alone. Craving love, it is understandable that Jennifer had anger issues. The question is can people change? Can violent deeds of the past be forgiven with the passage of time?

Jennifer is about to be released from jail and the press has made it front page news once again. Is JJ still a danger to other children? Where is she going to live now? Will the family of the dead girl try to get revenge?

Alice Tully, like everyone else, follows the stories in the paper with keen interest. The only thing is that Alice knows something no one else does. She knows where Jennifer Jones is. Only three other people know her whereabouts. What is the connection between Alice Tully and Jennifer Jones? Why does Alice live in constant fear? Who is Alice Tully exactly? Read the book to find out.....

Reviewed by: coollibrarianchick

thought provoking
very interesting topic, discussed in a fiction approach allows us to imagine what goes on a an individuals mind in these situations although it is an imagined idea on behalf of the author. did find i had to look back to find where some characters were mentioned earlier.

i was surprised at who the child who died actually was, was not expecting it to be her. an honest approach to a difficult topic.

Great topic - interesting read
Compared to Anne Cassidy's other books - which are frankly boring - "Looking For JJ" has a topic that would interest anyone. We are introduced to the character of Alice, who, although she tries hard to be a normal eighteen-year-old girl, cannot let go of her awful past, and, it seems, neither can the judgemental public.
Whenever we hear of a murder, we are quick to label the killer as a bad person, and a child-killer would of course be worse. So I think it was a brave act of Cassidy's to write this novel about Alice Tully, who isn't the stereotypical killer. Through keyhole peeks at her childhood, we are able to see her selfish mother, and her controlling 'best friend.' Alice, as Jennifer, is not merely a child who killed another child, she is a little girl, and we can't judge.

I am giving "Looking for JJ" 4 stars, because it was a good read, but my only hold-back would be the writing style, which, I think, doesn't sufficiently tell us everything, and can be a bit wooden.