Finding Jennifer Jones

By Author / Illustrator

Anne Cassidy

Genre

Adventure

Publisher

Hot Key Books

ISBN

9781471402289

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

06-02-2014

Synopsis

The long-awaited sequel to the critically acclaimed LOOKING FOR JJKate Rickman seems just like any other nineteen-year-old girl. She goes to university, she dates nice, normal boys and she works in her local tourist office at the weekend. But Kate's not really normal at all. 'Kate' is in fact a carefully constructed facade for a girl called Jennifer Jones - and it's a facade that's crumbling fast. Jennifer has spent the last nine years frantically trying to escape from her horrifying past. Increasingly desperate, Jennifer decides to do something drastic. She contacts the only other girl who might understand what she's dealing with, breaking every rule of her parole along the way. Lucy Bussell is the last person Jennifer expects any sympathy from, but she's also the last person she has left.FINDING JENNIFER JONES is the powerful sequel to the highly acclaimed, Carnegie Medal nominated LOOKING FOR JJ. It is a tense, emotional thriller about guilt, running away and wondering if you can ever truly know yourself.

Reviews

Do I feel more sympathy for Jennifer Jones now? Am I still willing her to speak out and tell about being frightened to have her photo taken by the creepy Mr Cottis? Has this sequel raised more questions than provided answers? Jennifer Jones is older. She's been moved on from her previous placement as Alice Tully and is working at a Summer job during University. But she's broken the conditions of her release and written to Lucy, the other girl on the fateful day of Michelle's death. In her new identity as Kate, she is shocked when a little girl goes missing and the local police contact her to question her. She hadn't realised that they knew her whereabouts. In the face of a vindictive policeman Kate makes the decision, on her own and against parole conditions, to disappear to London to try to lose her past. But is this possible?
Throughout the book we are fed more details of Jennifer's bewilderment of what was happening to her life when she was dependent on adults looking after her. Jennifer still refuses to blame her Mother. She still defends her and does not speak out about what her Mum asked her to keep quiet.
Although this book would stand alone, having read Looking for JJ adds to the reading experience. I was fully immersed in the story and was shocked by Kate's treatment in spite of her crime. As there are now more reading groups than there were 10 years ago, I can see this becoming a firm favourite for meaty discussions.
275 pages / Ages 12+ / Reviewed by Dawn Woods, librarian