- Hardcover: 304 pages
- Publisher: Scholastic Press (13 Feb 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0439977126
- ISBN-13: 978-0439977128
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 14 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 167,152 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Looking For JJ
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
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?
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ignore what everyone's saying: this book isn't a murder mystery. It's the story of Alice Tully, seventeen years old, outwardly normal but a mess inside. Alice is deeply disturbed and insecure. At the age of ten, Alice murdered another child and was imprisoned. Newly released, she's trying to forget the incident, start a new life and cast off her old baggage. Somehow she can't get rid of her past trauma.
In the book, we follow Alice through a short period of her life: she's working in a coffee shop, living with a carer/social worker and trying to avoid the press.
The novel is interspersed with chilling vignettes from Alice's childhood. We see her neglected as a little girl, her depressed mother working sporadically as a model. We see her packed off to live with Gran, to live in a care-home, until finally Mum turns up and takes her away. We see her mother sinking lower and lower, and the child's tension building up and up - until the intense climax.
This is a fine novel that questions our habit of labelling people. As a killer, Alice is labelled EVIL and UNREACHABLE. The author shows that she's not evil, not unreachable: just deeply miserable and confused. The labels only serve to alienate Alice.
This novel made me resolve to take care of the children I might have, and never to neglect them. As Ms Cassidy so wisely points out, neglect in all its forms can be worse than any abuse.
In the book, we follow Alice through a short period of her life: she's working in a coffee shop, living with a carer/social worker and trying to avoid the press.
The novel is interspersed with chilling vignettes from Alice's childhood. We see her neglected as a little girl, her depressed mother working sporadically as a model. We see her packed off to live with Gran, to live in a care-home, until finally Mum turns up and takes her away. We see her mother sinking lower and lower, and the child's tension building up and up - until the intense climax.
This is a fine novel that questions our habit of labelling people. As a killer, Alice is labelled EVIL and UNREACHABLE. The author shows that she's not evil, not unreachable: just deeply miserable and confused. The labels only serve to alienate Alice.
This novel made me resolve to take care of the children I might have, and never to neglect them. As Ms Cassidy so wisely points out, neglect in all its forms can be worse than any abuse.
27 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Every now and again something quite extraordinary is written that sweeps away any doubts you may have. This is the story about a child who, aged 10, killed another child, an appalling crime, and yet the child is not a monster. The plain, unadorned style is perfectly suited to the subject matter; the subject matter is handled so dexterously that you do not fear to read it, especially the crime itself, which is important. But most of all this is a masterly exercise in organisation and structure of material. There are a thousand ways this book could have been written badly and so ruined. Anne Cassidy avoids them all. I gave this book to my daughter, aged 15, when I finished. She hasn't been reading a lot lately, and she didn't read this: she DEVOURED it.
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found 'Looking for JJ' a very thoughtful, well-written book. It explores current issues in society, and shows how children, who are not appreciated and cared for can become devastatingly lost. I have recommended this book to both students (young teens who are mature and good readers) and adults. They have all also immensely enjoyed it. This is a great piece of Teen Fiction.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Looking for JJ
I am a 15 year old girl and this is one of, if not THE best book I've read in my albeit short lifetime. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Alison
OK, but ultimately not gripping enough (considering the topic...)
In an age where everything has already happened at least once before and nothing can shock us anymore, it's hard to find just that one truly horribly shocking event. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Els De Clercq
Playing the blame game
Powerful and thought-provoking; this novel challenged my perceptions and tugged on my heartstrings. The character of Alice will always be haunted by what she did; much like John... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Scaroth, Last of the Jagaroth
Open your eyes
Looking for JJ is a book about a girl called Alice Tully, and her hard, miserable and indescribable life. It is the story of her childhood, with very disturbing flashbacks. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Bobble Head Readers
Looking for JJ - a unique book, very well written
A very moving book which has been cleverly written by Anne Cassidy. This book is in my opinion the best book that Anne has written. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Molly
Most Painful Read of my Life
I hate this book. And i mean seriously hate it. The story of 3 children setting off one day and only two of them returning because the third had been murdered - it doesn't take a... Read more
Published on 5 Sep 2008 by Marlyly
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? Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2007 by TeensReadToo
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... Read more
Published on 3 July 2007 by Lindymck
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. Read more
Published on 1 July 2007 by Lauren H
VERY GOOD
i have just finished reading it and i could not put it down!! it was just soo good!! i would definately say this is a good book to buy!
Published on 6 Jun 2007 by Emma Horsefield
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