Looking for JJ: Amazon.co.uk: Anne Cassidy: Books

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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

21 Reviews

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

4.4 out of 5 stars (21 customer reviews)

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35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chilling, beautifully written; definitely different, 23 Feb 2006

By	Sunfish (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Looking for JJ (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.

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent novel for young adults, 12 April 2007

By	Miranda McDade "mirandamc" (Scotland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Looking for JJ (Paperback)

Looking for JJ is an excellent novel for young adults. It tell Alice Tully's story as she settles into life after being released from prison. She has been given a new identity and hopes to start a new life. At the start of the book this seems possible; she has a place at university and a loving, if slightly possessive, boyfriend, but things will never be easy for Alice Tully. In a series of flashbacks her crime is revealed - when she was only ten she murdered her best friend.

In this novel Anne Cassidy examines several themes. The friendship between the young girls is shown to be a battleground, with a power struggle at the centre. The different sets of parents show how selfish some parents can be, and what effect this can have. The media treatment of Alice show us just how vindictive they are, how they stop at nothing to get their story. The characterisation of the girls when they are young is excellent as is Alice's Mum; however her social work seems like a bit of a stereotype.

However, I feel the main theme 'children killing children' is skimmed over, probably because there is so little evidence to go on or maybe because it is too horrific to think about, never mind write about. Having read this novel I did some research into child killers on the internet and it is a very disturbing topic, it is too easy to write these people of as freaks of nature, but they were all ordinary kids at one point and they have to live with the crimes they have commited.

Overall, a good, thought-provoking novel.

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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic read for young teens , 23 Jul 2006

By	Mrs. C. (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Looking for JJ (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

5.0 out of 5 stars 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 6 months ago by Barney McGrew

2.0 out of 5 stars 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 14 months ago by Marlyly

4.0 out of 5 stars 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

4.0 out of 5 stars 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... Read more

Published on 3 Jul 2007 by Lindymck

4.0 out of 5 stars 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 Jul 2007 by Lauren H

5.0 out of 5 stars 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

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent insight into the mind of a child killer
I bought this book on the strong reccomendation of many of my friends. I had completely forgotten about it until I chanced upon it a few days ago. Read more

Published on 6 Jan 2007 by A reader

3.0 out of 5 stars Who for?
I don't really understand who this book is for. It has deep thought and soul-searching, alienating children, but the language is agonisingly childish and clumsy - alienating any... Read more

Published on 14 May 2006 by B. Dixon

4.0 out of 5 stars fantasticaly chilling
If you are looking for a book with a great beginning, a strange middle and a chilling end, then you will find no better than looking for JJ. Read more

Published on 30 Jan 2006 by Caspian

5.0 out of 5 stars Looking for JJ, North east book award group
If you think a drama can't move you or a tragity can't be funny, then jj can tell you different.

Published on 8 Dec 2005 by Becca

› See all 21 customer reviews...

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	81% buy the item featured on this page: Looking for JJ 4.4 out of 5 stars (21)
	6% buy Love Letters 5.0 out of 5 stars (2) �3.60
	5% buy Talking to Strangers 5.0 out of 5 stars (2) �3.44
	5% buy Missing Judy 4.0 out of 5 stars (5) �3.13

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