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Jennifer Jones #2
Finding Jennifer Jones
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.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2014
24 people are currently reading
832 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
March 20, 2014
I had high hopes for this book because Looking For JJ is such a brilliant piece of fiction and one of the books I read as a teen that's really stuck with me.
Unfortunately, there's just nothing really *new* here. Looking For JJ was so brilliant because it explored the very difficult issues surrounding murder and children and what life there is after committing a terrible crime as a child. Finding Jennifer Jones is pretty much just more of that. Maybe there would have been more to say if the novel had been set a little later in Jennifer's life. It would be very interesting to see how she adjusted to life as an adult (at 18, she is not matured enough past the age she was in the previous book - 16, I believe - to be facing truly adult situations), for example having children of her own or holding down a full time job.
Looking For JJ put you into the mind of a convicted criminal and it was uncomfortable and illuminating, which is why the book was so fantastic. The problem with Finding Jennifer Jones is that that has already been done. The book even wastes a whole portion on the trial and Jennifer as a child, which is all stuff we already know.
Unfortunately, there's just nothing really *new* here. Looking For JJ was so brilliant because it explored the very difficult issues surrounding murder and children and what life there is after committing a terrible crime as a child. Finding Jennifer Jones is pretty much just more of that. Maybe there would have been more to say if the novel had been set a little later in Jennifer's life. It would be very interesting to see how she adjusted to life as an adult (at 18, she is not matured enough past the age she was in the previous book - 16, I believe - to be facing truly adult situations), for example having children of her own or holding down a full time job.
Looking For JJ put you into the mind of a convicted criminal and it was uncomfortable and illuminating, which is why the book was so fantastic. The problem with Finding Jennifer Jones is that that has already been done. The book even wastes a whole portion on the trial and Jennifer as a child, which is all stuff we already know.
January 14, 2021
Because my wife's name was Jennifer Jones I read 'Looking for Jennifer Jones' and liked it so much I read this sequel. It is the story of a young 18 year old trying to find her way in the world after having murdered her friend when she was just 1o. Not an uplifting book but a beauty. I REALLY enjoyed them both and was not disappointed with this sequel.
March 23, 2021
Excellent writing style. Very enjoyable if rather grim tale. The ending is a bit of a let down but otherwise still well worth a read.
September 13, 2014
I LOVED Looking For JJ and I mean LOVED IT. I originally read JJ ten years ago and t is a story that has stayed with me, so finding out now that there was a recent sequel was exciting and terrifying for me at the same time.
I REALLY liked this - I felt Finding Jennifer Jones really answered questions and rounded things off better for me - at the end of JJ I wanted more and I had wondered about JJ and what she would be doing - so it was fascinating to catch up with her and find out how this tragedy had continued to affect her and her life.
I liked that we saw the return of characters from JJ, not only Jennifer (now Kate) but Lucy has a part along with other characters receiving mentions through flashbacks.
The only questions I had remaining were
I really enjoyed it and I am SO PLEASED there was a sequel to one of the stories that has stayed with me since my childhood - so thank you so much for that <3
I REALLY liked this - I felt Finding Jennifer Jones really answered questions and rounded things off better for me - at the end of JJ I wanted more and I had wondered about JJ and what she would be doing - so it was fascinating to catch up with her and find out how this tragedy had continued to affect her and her life.
I liked that we saw the return of characters from JJ, not only Jennifer (now Kate) but Lucy has a part along with other characters receiving mentions through flashbacks.
The only questions I had remaining were
I really enjoyed it and I am SO PLEASED there was a sequel to one of the stories that has stayed with me since my childhood - so thank you so much for that <3
October 23, 2014
I was so ecstatic when I saw this book! I loved 'Looking for JJ' when I read it many years ago and I was looking forward to reading more.
I re-read 'Looking for JJ' as I wanted to refresh my memory to what happens. So I got them both on audiobook.
I enjoyed listening to them back-to-back, but in doing this I feel that 'Finding Jennifer Jones' didn't quite measure up to the first.
Don't get me wrong, I still really liked this! I'm glad Anne Cassidy wrote it because it shows you more about what happened on that terrible day and I feel like Jj's story is finally over and she can live a normal life. But it didn't have the same appeal and intrigue that 'Looking for JJ' had.
If you like a good mystery then this & 'Looking for JJ' are books to add to your to-read shelf!
I re-read 'Looking for JJ' as I wanted to refresh my memory to what happens. So I got them both on audiobook.
I enjoyed listening to them back-to-back, but in doing this I feel that 'Finding Jennifer Jones' didn't quite measure up to the first.
Don't get me wrong, I still really liked this! I'm glad Anne Cassidy wrote it because it shows you more about what happened on that terrible day and I feel like Jj's story is finally over and she can live a normal life. But it didn't have the same appeal and intrigue that 'Looking for JJ' had.
If you like a good mystery then this & 'Looking for JJ' are books to add to your to-read shelf!
April 23, 2020
Finding Jennifer Jones ist kein schlechtes Buch. Es befasst sich, wie schon der erste Teil, mit der Frage, wie das Leben von schwer straffällig gewordenen Kindern (Mord) weitergehen kann bzw. soll nachdem sie ihre Strafe verbüßt haben. Allerdings kann es, im Vergleich zu Looking for JJ nur sehr wenig neues zu dem Thema beisteuern und gerade was die Protagonistin Jennifer Jones angeht erlebt man als Leser eher eine Rückentwicklung des Charakters. Dies ist notwendig um die Geschichte so zu konzipieren, dass sie funktioniert, wirkt auf mich aber nicht immer glaubwürdig.
Looking for JJ war für mich eine rundum gelungene und in sich abgeschlossene Geschichte die keine Fortsetzung gebraucht hätte und Finding Jennifer Jones beweist, dass manche Geschichten eben nach 300 Seiten erzählt sind und es nicht mehr benötigt um eine kraftvolle Aussage zu tätigen.
Looking for JJ war für mich eine rundum gelungene und in sich abgeschlossene Geschichte die keine Fortsetzung gebraucht hätte und Finding Jennifer Jones beweist, dass manche Geschichten eben nach 300 Seiten erzählt sind und es nicht mehr benötigt um eine kraftvolle Aussage zu tätigen.
November 26, 2017
This is the second book of a duology, but I never read the first one. However, I think it's okay to be read as a standalone, as there's a part in this book that gives you a flashback of the main character's life when she was younger.
Kate Rickman, or her real name Jennifer Jones, had killed her friend when they were 10, and she was convicted for it. She was released with a new identity and a new life, allowed to finish her degree, but she was not feeling really good having to lie to people about who she was. Then another tragedy hit the town she was living in, a girl was found dead and Kate was dragged in for questioning because that's who she was; a criminal with a past of violence. She was verbally harrassed by the police officers and that pushed her to the edge. She was determined to get her freedom bac, but Kate had a pretty huge price to pay for freedom.
Honestly, Kate isn't a lovable character. I could understand her frustration and the reason behind her violence in the past. But she has this sort of attitude, even towards people who had meant her no harm. She always made rash decisions. You can't really blame her, but you can't love her either.
I like the plot and the writing style. It's easy to read. It's not a thick book, it gives you enough information to make you understand what's happening to the main character and also her past. It's not a slow read, but it's not a fast one either. It doesn't really rush you to the ending (okay the last part before the ending was a bit rushed).
Kate Rickman, or her real name Jennifer Jones, had killed her friend when they were 10, and she was convicted for it. She was released with a new identity and a new life, allowed to finish her degree, but she was not feeling really good having to lie to people about who she was. Then another tragedy hit the town she was living in, a girl was found dead and Kate was dragged in for questioning because that's who she was; a criminal with a past of violence. She was verbally harrassed by the police officers and that pushed her to the edge. She was determined to get her freedom bac, but Kate had a pretty huge price to pay for freedom.
Honestly, Kate isn't a lovable character. I could understand her frustration and the reason behind her violence in the past. But she has this sort of attitude, even towards people who had meant her no harm. She always made rash decisions. You can't really blame her, but you can't love her either.
I like the plot and the writing style. It's easy to read. It's not a thick book, it gives you enough information to make you understand what's happening to the main character and also her past. It's not a slow read, but it's not a fast one either. It doesn't really rush you to the ending (okay the last part before the ending was a bit rushed).
July 24, 2018
A very touching story of what it is like living as a convicted murderer, but being a teenager. A child killer killing a child.
Jennifer killed one of her friends when she was a child and has served her time and been released. She has had several name changes and new identities given to her by the Social workers, but the history of what she has done still follows her. She gets recognised and has to move on.
Finally she is relatively happy working in the tourist information office and she even has the beginnings of getting a boyfriend, she is living like any normal teenaged girl.
Then it all changes
Very insightful and heart-rending story of Jennifer/Kate.
Jennifer killed one of her friends when she was a child and has served her time and been released. She has had several name changes and new identities given to her by the Social workers, but the history of what she has done still follows her. She gets recognised and has to move on.
Finally she is relatively happy working in the tourist information office and she even has the beginnings of getting a boyfriend, she is living like any normal teenaged girl.
Then it all changes
Very insightful and heart-rending story of Jennifer/Kate.
August 2, 2016
I began reading this book and got to about a quarter of the way through, and since putting it down I've had no desire to pick it back up again. A shame, considering I loved the first one!
October 21, 2024
˚₊‧꒰ა 2.5 stars ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
This was bleh. Maybe unpopular opinion but Jennifer Jones doesn't deserve a good ending and I hate that she got one. The first book in this series was amazing... this was unneeded. She is a child murderer and shouldn't be tried to be made likeable in the slightest.
Her breaking her probation rules and getting away with it is also crazy and very unrealistic. I'm just gonna pretend this doesn't exist and enjoy 'Looking for JJ' as a standalone.
“I now intend to live with my birth name, Jennifer Jones. I am no longer prepared to live a lie.”
This was bleh. Maybe unpopular opinion but Jennifer Jones doesn't deserve a good ending and I hate that she got one. The first book in this series was amazing... this was unneeded. She is a child murderer and shouldn't be tried to be made likeable in the slightest.
Her breaking her probation rules and getting away with it is also crazy and very unrealistic. I'm just gonna pretend this doesn't exist and enjoy 'Looking for JJ' as a standalone.
February 8, 2024
Having loved the first book and recently re read it, I finally got round to reading the sequel.
While I liked it, it felt like it didn’t really bring much more to the story of Jennifer. Yes, she reported something she could have when she was younger and yes, she took charge of her own life a bit more but that felt like that was it. I would have liked to have seen more consequences for her mother.
While I liked it, it felt like it didn’t really bring much more to the story of Jennifer. Yes, she reported something she could have when she was younger and yes, she took charge of her own life a bit more but that felt like that was it. I would have liked to have seen more consequences for her mother.
April 17, 2019
'She didn't want that. She wanted to be in control of her own life - but she kept being told she'd given up that right. Was she always to be some kind of puppet, her strings pulled by the authorities? Would she have ever paid enough?'
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
Finding Jennifer Jones is one of those unusual sequels, published several years after the original. Luckily, I didn't have to wait years to read it, because I first read Looking For JJ around the same time Finding Jennifer Jones was published.
As far as sequels go, it's not half bad. Not as good as its predecessor, but that's only to be expected.
THE GOOD:
- I loved finding out what happened next. At the end of Looking For JJ, we left Jennifer on the cusp of yet another fresh start, under the new name Kate Rickman.
Finding Jennifer Jones picks up a couple of years later, with Jennifer/Kate settled into her new life, with friends, a job, enjoying her university course. However, her past continues to haunt her, and she in still constantly looking over her shoulder.
I really enjoyed seeing how Kate was coping a few years along the line, and I also loved the continued flashbacks to her life as Jennifer.
Whereas in Looking For JJ, we saw the events leading up to Michelle's death, in Finding Jennifer Jones, we saw what happened immediately after: the police investigation, Jennifer's time spent in a Facility, the trial.
This answered a lot of questions I had at the end of Looking For JJ, so I'm glad I picked this book up.
- I liked that characters from Looking For JJ were brought back, in particular, the whole Lucy storyline. Up until this point, we've only seen how Michelle's death impacted on Jennifer, so it was cool to see the consequences for other people involved.
- It was a really interesting insight into the treatment of criminals, and how they are hounded by the law years after they have served their time. Of course, I'm not sure how close the portrayal of Jennifer/Kate's experience is to the truth, but I liked Anne Cassidy's depiction of how the police regard notorious criminals like Jennifer Jones.
- The ending. Although it was a tad unrealistic (more on this later) I ultimately felt more content with the story leaving off where it did than I did with Looking For JJ. It felt like everything had drawn towards a natural conclusion.
I also felt oddly proud when Kate decided to stop pretending, and live out the rest of her life openly as Jennifer Jones. The moment she said she'd stop living a lie was quite triumphant, in a weird way.
THE BAD
- Ultimately, I have to agree with several other reviewers here, who have said that Finding Jennifer Jones doesn't really bring anything new to the table. It's kind of a rehash of what we saw in Looking For JJ: Jennifer has a new identity, Jennifer struggles to move on from her past, Jennifer has flashbacks, Jennifer's identity is compromised.
As another reviewer said, it would perhaps have been more interesting to have Finding Jennifer Jones set a few years later, when Jennifer was much older, dealing with more mature issues, such as a career, marriage, and children, etc.
- I still feel that Jennifer/Kate's character could have been fleshed out a little more.
I mean, she's an infamous criminal, with a traumatic childhood, living under an alias due to a murder she committed aged 10. I feel like there's so much room for her to be a really complex character, and she just isn't, really. A bit drab.
THE UGLY:
- I think this book was quite unrealistic. I admit, I don't have personal experience with many of these issues, but here are the things that made me raise an eyebrow:
1. Jennifer/Kate's treatment at the hands of DC Kelsey. That sort of harassment, even towards a murderer, could easily lose him his job.
2. The ridiculous coincidence of Jennifer/Kate having an interaction with a little girl who was then murdered in much the same way as Michelle, nine years earlier, leading Jennifer/Kate to become the obvious suspect.
3. That Kate decides to live out in the open as Jennifer Jones, despite being one of the country's most notorious criminals, and most people are seemingly ok with that. She only gets attacked in the street once.
4. Jennifer/Kate's boyfriend, whom she was only with for a very short time, whom she used, lied to, and stole from, is A-Ok with her being a convicted murderer, and says, 'I don't care what you did in your past. I love you now', as though she was just expelled from primary school, or something, instead of actually murdering her best friend with a baseball bat.
OVERALL:
Whilst Finding Jennifer Jones doesn't really offer us anything new, I'm still glad that Anne Cassidy wrote it, and I'm glad I picked it up, because it tied up a lot of loose ends.
It's not as good as Looking For JJ, but to be honest, it came pretty close, whereas a lot of long-awaited sequels fall miserably short.
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
Finding Jennifer Jones is one of those unusual sequels, published several years after the original. Luckily, I didn't have to wait years to read it, because I first read Looking For JJ around the same time Finding Jennifer Jones was published.
As far as sequels go, it's not half bad. Not as good as its predecessor, but that's only to be expected.
THE GOOD:
- I loved finding out what happened next. At the end of Looking For JJ, we left Jennifer on the cusp of yet another fresh start, under the new name Kate Rickman.
Finding Jennifer Jones picks up a couple of years later, with Jennifer/Kate settled into her new life, with friends, a job, enjoying her university course. However, her past continues to haunt her, and she in still constantly looking over her shoulder.
I really enjoyed seeing how Kate was coping a few years along the line, and I also loved the continued flashbacks to her life as Jennifer.
Whereas in Looking For JJ, we saw the events leading up to Michelle's death, in Finding Jennifer Jones, we saw what happened immediately after: the police investigation, Jennifer's time spent in a Facility, the trial.
This answered a lot of questions I had at the end of Looking For JJ, so I'm glad I picked this book up.
- I liked that characters from Looking For JJ were brought back, in particular, the whole Lucy storyline. Up until this point, we've only seen how Michelle's death impacted on Jennifer, so it was cool to see the consequences for other people involved.
- It was a really interesting insight into the treatment of criminals, and how they are hounded by the law years after they have served their time. Of course, I'm not sure how close the portrayal of Jennifer/Kate's experience is to the truth, but I liked Anne Cassidy's depiction of how the police regard notorious criminals like Jennifer Jones.
- The ending. Although it was a tad unrealistic (more on this later) I ultimately felt more content with the story leaving off where it did than I did with Looking For JJ. It felt like everything had drawn towards a natural conclusion.
I also felt oddly proud when Kate decided to stop pretending, and live out the rest of her life openly as Jennifer Jones. The moment she said she'd stop living a lie was quite triumphant, in a weird way.
THE BAD
- Ultimately, I have to agree with several other reviewers here, who have said that Finding Jennifer Jones doesn't really bring anything new to the table. It's kind of a rehash of what we saw in Looking For JJ: Jennifer has a new identity, Jennifer struggles to move on from her past, Jennifer has flashbacks, Jennifer's identity is compromised.
As another reviewer said, it would perhaps have been more interesting to have Finding Jennifer Jones set a few years later, when Jennifer was much older, dealing with more mature issues, such as a career, marriage, and children, etc.
- I still feel that Jennifer/Kate's character could have been fleshed out a little more.
I mean, she's an infamous criminal, with a traumatic childhood, living under an alias due to a murder she committed aged 10. I feel like there's so much room for her to be a really complex character, and she just isn't, really. A bit drab.
THE UGLY:
- I think this book was quite unrealistic. I admit, I don't have personal experience with many of these issues, but here are the things that made me raise an eyebrow:
1. Jennifer/Kate's treatment at the hands of DC Kelsey. That sort of harassment, even towards a murderer, could easily lose him his job.
2. The ridiculous coincidence of Jennifer/Kate having an interaction with a little girl who was then murdered in much the same way as Michelle, nine years earlier, leading Jennifer/Kate to become the obvious suspect.
3. That Kate decides to live out in the open as Jennifer Jones, despite being one of the country's most notorious criminals, and most people are seemingly ok with that. She only gets attacked in the street once.
4. Jennifer/Kate's boyfriend, whom she was only with for a very short time, whom she used, lied to, and stole from, is A-Ok with her being a convicted murderer, and says, 'I don't care what you did in your past. I love you now', as though she was just expelled from primary school, or something, instead of actually murdering her best friend with a baseball bat.
OVERALL:
Whilst Finding Jennifer Jones doesn't really offer us anything new, I'm still glad that Anne Cassidy wrote it, and I'm glad I picked it up, because it tied up a lot of loose ends.
It's not as good as Looking For JJ, but to be honest, it came pretty close, whereas a lot of long-awaited sequels fall miserably short.
June 17, 2018
Not as good as the first one, I was a bit disappointed really.
I found I really started to despise Jennifer at some points. Where I had empathised with her in the previous book, she was just annoying and whined a lot and I don't think she was actually willing to accept her actions (even though that is her aim). A lot of the things she did were just downright stupid and she never took into consideration how her actions would affect others.
However, at other points, I could understand where she was coming from, but I didn't enjoy her as much as a main character anymore.
The writing was still really good and enjoyable in this book as well. Although the plot was lacking a bit of oomph.
All in all a decent read, a worthy continuation of the first book, but not as good in my opinion.
I found I really started to despise Jennifer at some points. Where I had empathised with her in the previous book, she was just annoying and whined a lot and I don't think she was actually willing to accept her actions (even though that is her aim). A lot of the things she did were just downright stupid and she never took into consideration how her actions would affect others.
However, at other points, I could understand where she was coming from, but I didn't enjoy her as much as a main character anymore.
The writing was still really good and enjoyable in this book as well. Although the plot was lacking a bit of oomph.
All in all a decent read, a worthy continuation of the first book, but not as good in my opinion.
September 28, 2022
Chyba oczekiwałam czegoś więcej.
December 7, 2017
It started intriguingly but I soon found Jennifer and her problems tedious.
June 2, 2015
Really interesting conclusion to Jennifer's story.
Earlier this year I finally read Looking For JJ, the first book by Anne Cassidy about child killer, Jennifer Jones. I thought that book was dark and surprising and very thought-provoking and after I finished reading it, I was incredibly intrigued to see where the author would take this story next. And I wasn't disappointed with the sequel, Finding Jennifer Jones. It didn't quite reach the same level of emotions that Looking For JJ did but it was still incredibly fascinating and thoughtful and I was gripped by it from the very first page.
Before I started reading Finding Jennifer Jones, I did wonder if Looking For JJ really needed a sequel. It felt like quite a lot had been covered in the first book already. And then I started reading Finding Jennifer Jones and realised that Anne Cassidy probably knew what she was doing here. And I found it really wonderful (if at times realistic) to see the conclusion to Jennifer's story and to see things from a different perspective and to catch up on some of the other characters' lives that we were introduced to in the first book.
Finding Jennifer Jones takes place several years after the events of Looking For JJ and JJ is now Kate Rickman and a student at Exmouth University. She lives with roommates off campus, has a summer job and is trying to hold a normal life after the dramatics of her release and the media storm that happened in Looking For JJ.
Things should be wonderful for Kate. She got what she wanted: her anonymity back, attending university, the ability to go on with her life. But there are certain things that hold her back from fully appreciating what she has. Two things happen that really spur this story on. The first is that a girl is found drowned in the sea and evidence is found that links this drowned girl to Kate. The second is that Kate reaches out to Lucy (Mouse) in London and apologies to her for what happened all those years ago.
I found both aspects of this new plot really fascinating. It was difficult to witness Kate's experiences with the police and their investigation to this new tragedy. It felt unfair and slightly harrowing how quickly Kate is mistreated and assumed to have committed this crime. I could really feel Kate's frustration at never being able to live down the events of her past. Which is why I could really believe in her wanted to clear the air with Lucy. Everything that happened in that second half of the novel had me on edge as I knew she was doing the wrong thing but it also felt entirely believeable that she might make the mistakes she did.
I really enjoyed Finding Jennifer Jones. I loved seeing some loose tied up and seeing the conclusion to her story. I wanted good things for this character and I was amazed by how real she felt to me while reading this two books.
Earlier this year I finally read Looking For JJ, the first book by Anne Cassidy about child killer, Jennifer Jones. I thought that book was dark and surprising and very thought-provoking and after I finished reading it, I was incredibly intrigued to see where the author would take this story next. And I wasn't disappointed with the sequel, Finding Jennifer Jones. It didn't quite reach the same level of emotions that Looking For JJ did but it was still incredibly fascinating and thoughtful and I was gripped by it from the very first page.
Before I started reading Finding Jennifer Jones, I did wonder if Looking For JJ really needed a sequel. It felt like quite a lot had been covered in the first book already. And then I started reading Finding Jennifer Jones and realised that Anne Cassidy probably knew what she was doing here. And I found it really wonderful (if at times realistic) to see the conclusion to Jennifer's story and to see things from a different perspective and to catch up on some of the other characters' lives that we were introduced to in the first book.
Finding Jennifer Jones takes place several years after the events of Looking For JJ and JJ is now Kate Rickman and a student at Exmouth University. She lives with roommates off campus, has a summer job and is trying to hold a normal life after the dramatics of her release and the media storm that happened in Looking For JJ.
Things should be wonderful for Kate. She got what she wanted: her anonymity back, attending university, the ability to go on with her life. But there are certain things that hold her back from fully appreciating what she has. Two things happen that really spur this story on. The first is that a girl is found drowned in the sea and evidence is found that links this drowned girl to Kate. The second is that Kate reaches out to Lucy (Mouse) in London and apologies to her for what happened all those years ago.
I found both aspects of this new plot really fascinating. It was difficult to witness Kate's experiences with the police and their investigation to this new tragedy. It felt unfair and slightly harrowing how quickly Kate is mistreated and assumed to have committed this crime. I could really feel Kate's frustration at never being able to live down the events of her past. Which is why I could really believe in her wanted to clear the air with Lucy. Everything that happened in that second half of the novel had me on edge as I knew she was doing the wrong thing but it also felt entirely believeable that she might make the mistakes she did.
I really enjoyed Finding Jennifer Jones. I loved seeing some loose tied up and seeing the conclusion to her story. I wanted good things for this character and I was amazed by how real she felt to me while reading this two books.
August 7, 2016
I LOVED Looking for JJ. I mean, it wasn't an easy read, but it was so brilliantly done. We knew basically from the beginning who the killer was, but not who the victim was or what the motive was. So I was pretty excited when I stumbled across this sequel at the library last week.
What I got, though, was more of the exact same stuff we'd had before, minus the big "OH MY GOD, MUST KEEP READING TO FIND OUT WHO DID IT" compulsion. Our protagonist is now nineteen and living in a share house, and making a crapton of terrible decisions. There were some flashbacks to what happened after Michelle's body is found that filled out the story nicely, but instead of the emotional gut punch that we got in the first book when reading about the terrible parenting and the squick-worthy things that were happening in Jennifer's life, we just got three hundred pages of wondering when - not if, but when - the police would catch up to Kate and her terrible decisions. Yes, it answers a bunch of questions that were left hanging in the first book. And yes, it proves that Jennifer/Alice/Kate can have a normal life. But there was just something that was missing for me.
Essentially, it was still a good story. But it wasn't nearly as compelling as what we got in Looking for JJ.
What I got, though, was more of the exact same stuff we'd had before, minus the big "OH MY GOD, MUST KEEP READING TO FIND OUT WHO DID IT" compulsion. Our protagonist is now nineteen and living in a share house, and making a crapton of terrible decisions. There were some flashbacks to what happened after Michelle's body is found that filled out the story nicely, but instead of the emotional gut punch that we got in the first book when reading about the terrible parenting and the squick-worthy things that were happening in Jennifer's life, we just got three hundred pages of wondering when - not if, but when - the police would catch up to Kate and her terrible decisions. Yes, it answers a bunch of questions that were left hanging in the first book. And yes, it proves that Jennifer/Alice/Kate can have a normal life. But there was just something that was missing for me.
Essentially, it was still a good story. But it wasn't nearly as compelling as what we got in Looking for JJ.
October 8, 2015
Grade: D
Eighteen-year-old Kate Rickman, is always looking over her shoulders, waiting to be identified as Jennifer Jones, the ten-year-old who killed her playmate. She's been out of prison for two years and has a second identity in this sequel to LOOKING FOR JJ. Kate decides to locate the third girl from the woods that fateful day, Lucy Bussell and apologize, even though doing so is strictly forbidden as a condition of her release.
The only reason I was interested in FINDING JENNIFER JONES was to read more about the crime and resolution to the story. Kate/Alice/Jennifer was a complex, not always likable but always sympathetic character.
Aside from the character aspect, I could barely get through Anne Cassidy's writing. I had so hoped her writing style improved since JJ, because the plot and characters were both well developed an interesting. The in-your-face telling and woeful lack of showing dragged my reading to a snail's pace, chugging along to find parts of the writing that advanced the story or characters.
THEMES: murder, rehabilitation, neglect, abuse,
Keep your expectations low if you want to find out what happens. Or save your time and money and email me and I'll tell you.
Eighteen-year-old Kate Rickman, is always looking over her shoulders, waiting to be identified as Jennifer Jones, the ten-year-old who killed her playmate. She's been out of prison for two years and has a second identity in this sequel to LOOKING FOR JJ. Kate decides to locate the third girl from the woods that fateful day, Lucy Bussell and apologize, even though doing so is strictly forbidden as a condition of her release.
The only reason I was interested in FINDING JENNIFER JONES was to read more about the crime and resolution to the story. Kate/Alice/Jennifer was a complex, not always likable but always sympathetic character.
Aside from the character aspect, I could barely get through Anne Cassidy's writing. I had so hoped her writing style improved since JJ, because the plot and characters were both well developed an interesting. The in-your-face telling and woeful lack of showing dragged my reading to a snail's pace, chugging along to find parts of the writing that advanced the story or characters.
THEMES: murder, rehabilitation, neglect, abuse,
Keep your expectations low if you want to find out what happens. Or save your time and money and email me and I'll tell you.
March 19, 2015
A well-written sequel which I enjoyed, and I liked the new characters. I don't understand why Jennifer never tells anyone that Mr Cottis was going to take photos on the day she deliberately stayed away, which ended in her killing Michelle. Surely that's mitigating circumstances...I felt her mother should have had to answer to that. That not being addressed or resolved let the book down for me, that the upbringing of Jennifer by her mother led to her occasional bursts of anger and violence. I might be in the minority too but I never really liked or felt too sorry for Michelle in the first book, she was a pretty bad best friend and mean to both Jennifer and Lucy on several occasions :/ I hoped for a better ending here.
July 20, 2014
I was totally and utterly gripped to this book - that was worth a five star rating. It has a fantastic plot and I loved being able to just pick it up and understand (I hadn't read the first book). I couldn't put it down and was completely drawn in and finished it in a day. My one complaint is that at times it was slightly narrative but I guess that's because it was written in 3rd person. This is the only reason I didn't give it five stars! Oh and the ending was slightly abrupt.... But seriously amazing book otherwise!
June 29, 2015
The truly remarkable sequel to a truly remarkable young adult novel. As with 'Looking For JJ', I really struggled to put 'Finding Jennifer Jones' down. The way Anne Cassidy writes about her characters makes you feel you really know them; each is a complex as a real human being. She covers taboo subjects with ease and confidence, using simple but evocative language that never gets in the way of the story. This book provides a very satisfying conclusion to a shocking tale. I simply cannot praise it enough.
March 18, 2014
Finding Jennifer Jones is a bittersweet book of pasts and secrets. This book was a surprise second edition to “Looking For JJ”, 10 years after its release. Kate is hiding the secret that as a 10 year old girl, she did a terrible thing, and now she lives with it every day, and the people around her dont know a thing. This book kept my interest and at times it was so suspenseful I couldn’t put it down. A great read overall, and addition to the first book.
December 31, 2017
Finding Jennifer Jones is the last book in our Kid-Lit challenge for this year and one we thought we'd leave until last to savour as we enjoyed the first book in the series so much in 2016, Looking For JJ. Quite often, I find the second book in a series a bit of a let down if I've loved the first so much but luckily, this wasn't the case at all with Finding Jennifer Jones. It was just as gut-wrenching and poignant as the first novel and it instantly made me remember why I loved the author's writing style so much when Chrissi and I first discovered her.
As with many series in young adult fiction, I think you will get much more out of the Jennifer Jones duology if you read Looking For JJ first where it introduces our main character, Jennifer Jones and explores the reasons why she finds herself living with a new identity. She is constantly on edge about the risk of people discovering who she really is and more importantly, what she did in her past which still continues to haunt her, as it well should. In this second novel, she has been forced to move once again and assume yet another identity whilst she goes to university, works part time at a tourist information centre, makes new friends and a love interest and desperately tries to live a normal life. However, this is easier said then done when the ghosts of her past still continue to torture her everyday life and it's not long before she considers breaking the very strict terms of her new existence just to try and feel free once more.
Hopefully I've been just vague enough for people who haven't read the first book in the series yet, both of which I highly recommend. Anne Cassidy is a fantastic author for young adults and really explores the gritty, darker side of human nature in a way that elicits your full and frank sympathy, particularly for our female protagonist, Jennifer. She realises unequivocally the gravity of her actions when she was a child and does not try to make excuses for them but obviously deeply regrets what happened as a terrible, unforgiveable mistake. As the reader, we too are appalled by what Jennifer did but at the same time feel so sorry for what she has gone through and still continues to suffer. Perhaps, we even think, she might have been punished enough? This is a story I was completely compelled by and it was wonderful to re-enter Jennifer's world and catch up with her life after the tense and life-changing events of the first novel. It would definitely raise some talking points considering the subject matter and is is nothing short of page turning.
For my full review and many more, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
As with many series in young adult fiction, I think you will get much more out of the Jennifer Jones duology if you read Looking For JJ first where it introduces our main character, Jennifer Jones and explores the reasons why she finds herself living with a new identity. She is constantly on edge about the risk of people discovering who she really is and more importantly, what she did in her past which still continues to haunt her, as it well should. In this second novel, she has been forced to move once again and assume yet another identity whilst she goes to university, works part time at a tourist information centre, makes new friends and a love interest and desperately tries to live a normal life. However, this is easier said then done when the ghosts of her past still continue to torture her everyday life and it's not long before she considers breaking the very strict terms of her new existence just to try and feel free once more.
Hopefully I've been just vague enough for people who haven't read the first book in the series yet, both of which I highly recommend. Anne Cassidy is a fantastic author for young adults and really explores the gritty, darker side of human nature in a way that elicits your full and frank sympathy, particularly for our female protagonist, Jennifer. She realises unequivocally the gravity of her actions when she was a child and does not try to make excuses for them but obviously deeply regrets what happened as a terrible, unforgiveable mistake. As the reader, we too are appalled by what Jennifer did but at the same time feel so sorry for what she has gone through and still continues to suffer. Perhaps, we even think, she might have been punished enough? This is a story I was completely compelled by and it was wonderful to re-enter Jennifer's world and catch up with her life after the tense and life-changing events of the first novel. It would definitely raise some talking points considering the subject matter and is is nothing short of page turning.
For my full review and many more, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
April 25, 2020
I found this frustrating. There is zero character growth and a lot of repetition from the first book.
If its purpose was to make us empathise with Jennifer and demonstrate that people should be able to move on with their lives once their sentence is complete, it did an awful job. While Jennifer takes responsibility for her actions, she doesn't bother to try and understand them. Maybe this is why she was still making the exact same mistakes. She never learned to be honest to those who could have helped her get over both what she had done and what her mother had done to her. And there were so many people wanting to help her. An unrealistic amount of people!
I guess my biggest problem with the the character is that I never understood why it took her so long to tell the police about the photographer. Not because this would have perhaps mitigated her crime, but because she has zero interest in the harm he was likely doing others. And then she finally does tell the police and its feels very, I don't know, selfish?
She was also really, really stupid. She goes to London, seeks out Lucy, then is shocked when the papers learn about it - her past just won't stop following her, its not fair! Umm, did you forget the part where the whole reason you were in London was SEEKING OUT YOUR PAST?!
If its purpose was to make us empathise with Jennifer and demonstrate that people should be able to move on with their lives once their sentence is complete, it did an awful job. While Jennifer takes responsibility for her actions, she doesn't bother to try and understand them. Maybe this is why she was still making the exact same mistakes. She never learned to be honest to those who could have helped her get over both what she had done and what her mother had done to her. And there were so many people wanting to help her. An unrealistic amount of people!
I guess my biggest problem with the the character is that I never understood why it took her so long to tell the police about the photographer. Not because this would have perhaps mitigated her crime, but because she has zero interest in the harm he was likely doing others. And then she finally does tell the police and its feels very, I don't know, selfish?
She was also really, really stupid. She goes to London, seeks out Lucy, then is shocked when the papers learn about it - her past just won't stop following her, its not fair! Umm, did you forget the part where the whole reason you were in London was SEEKING OUT YOUR PAST?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2018
I picked this up at the library without having read the first book, so a little confusion around Jennifer's history was to be expected.
But I think it worked pretty well even without the other book? In fact, I'm not sure if it needs it... this way, the history/backstory was a bit of a reveal, drawn out, whereas if you'd read the first book presumably you wouldn't get that experience.
This book was a blend of runaway and hiding identity, which I love. The story was exciting. There were some content issues, though. (I mean, I picked this book up from the library without knowing anything about it, so...)
Content: MC wakes up in a guy's bed after flirting while drunk. MC murdered another girl at ten years old (I think? can't check the age, book's gone back). . Mature themes.
Overall: I'm desperate for runaway books. And con artist books. And identity change/hiding books.
But I think it worked pretty well even without the other book? In fact, I'm not sure if it needs it... this way, the history/backstory was a bit of a reveal, drawn out, whereas if you'd read the first book presumably you wouldn't get that experience.
This book was a blend of runaway and hiding identity, which I love. The story was exciting. There were some content issues, though. (I mean, I picked this book up from the library without knowing anything about it, so...)
Content: MC wakes up in a guy's bed after flirting while drunk. MC murdered another girl at ten years old (I think? can't check the age, book's gone back). . Mature themes.
Overall: I'm desperate for runaway books. And con artist books. And identity change/hiding books.
March 14, 2025
It’s going to have to be a 4 star review as the book has left my head a bit all over the place on multiple fronts.
I spent a lot of the book wanting to scream and shake JJ. which I don’t feel the ending completely fleshes out everything smoothly for me, still screaming at her and everyone else around her a little. and yet I my analytical brain adored the debate with itself after all she is a murderer but was 10 years old at the time of the incident and she never denies what she did but how do you move on after that a build a life when you will always carry that around with you.
I keep forgetting she is only 19 thinking she is more early 20’s this makes some of my wanting to scream at her make more sense and the constant monitoring of her every move as struggling with how is she meant to live with getting constantly checked on but still under 21 then makes more sense.
I spent a lot of the book wanting to scream and shake JJ. which I don’t feel the ending completely fleshes out everything smoothly for me, still screaming at her and everyone else around her a little. and yet I my analytical brain adored the debate with itself after all she is a murderer but was 10 years old at the time of the incident and she never denies what she did but how do you move on after that a build a life when you will always carry that around with you.
I keep forgetting she is only 19 thinking she is more early 20’s this makes some of my wanting to scream at her make more sense and the constant monitoring of her every move as struggling with how is she meant to live with getting constantly checked on but still under 21 then makes more sense.
September 25, 2023
Looking for JJ / Finding Jennifer Jones by Anne Cassidy
I read 'looking for JJ' 12 years ago when I was at school, and the story stuck in my head. I couldn't remember the name until I finally found it online following the release of the second book! I bought them both immediately excited to dive right back in. Shout out to Mr Evans, wherever you are, for the start of my love in books!
The story follows the life of Jessica Jones, who, as a child, killed her friend in an argument. We learn about what it was like to grow up in the Jones house with an absent mother and questionable choices. What led her to that point and how she is now integrating back into society following her release.
The second book,'Finding Jennifer Jones,' follows on with further disruptions in her life, as she urges to be able to live normally, have relationships, and not hide behind another new identity.
I highly recommend these both to anyone who wants to get back into reading or loves a thriller/suspenseful read
I read 'looking for JJ' 12 years ago when I was at school, and the story stuck in my head. I couldn't remember the name until I finally found it online following the release of the second book! I bought them both immediately excited to dive right back in. Shout out to Mr Evans, wherever you are, for the start of my love in books!
The story follows the life of Jessica Jones, who, as a child, killed her friend in an argument. We learn about what it was like to grow up in the Jones house with an absent mother and questionable choices. What led her to that point and how she is now integrating back into society following her release.
The second book,'Finding Jennifer Jones,' follows on with further disruptions in her life, as she urges to be able to live normally, have relationships, and not hide behind another new identity.
I highly recommend these both to anyone who wants to get back into reading or loves a thriller/suspenseful read
December 8, 2017
I put off reading this book for a VERY long time. I read Looking for JJ a very long time ago and it was hands down one of my favourite books. I had my own version of what happened to Kate Rickman and I didn't want to change that. I bought Finding Jennifer Jones a year or so ago and let it sit on my shelf for a long time. Finally, I picked it up ( 2 days ago). Again the book was split into correlating sections, which I LOVE. The way in which Anne Cassidy wrote the tale of Jennifer Jones is beautiful. Her life played out in a way that is far different than what I imagined, but MAN OH MAN this book is amazing. If you are looking for a small interesting story read "Looking for JJ" & "Finding Jennifer Jones". These two books will always be on my favourite lists and I will revisit them often.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2024
3.5 rounded to 3
I was happy there was a sequel to “Looking for JJ’ to find out what happens to this intriguing character in this compelling story. Can a child offender make a life for herself as an adult? The writing however seems to lack sophistication. There’s a mistake where characters call her by a name they cannot know. Some of the dialogue feels forced. This sequel also spends too much time retelling the same incidents from the first book rather than deepening the psychology and sociology.
I was happy there was a sequel to “Looking for JJ’ to find out what happens to this intriguing character in this compelling story. Can a child offender make a life for herself as an adult? The writing however seems to lack sophistication. There’s a mistake where characters call her by a name they cannot know. Some of the dialogue feels forced. This sequel also spends too much time retelling the same incidents from the first book rather than deepening the psychology and sociology.
November 16, 2024
This was just as good as the first one. I was interested in knowing what Kate was up to after the events of the previous book. Also, if she was going to see Lucy again.
It also gave more insight about what specifically happened after Michelle's body was found, and Jennifer's time at the "facility".
I did find things moved a bit too quick at some points, such as her getting the telephone job so quick. Also, I was wondering why she made the decision to go by her real name, and how that would actually play out for her in Exmouth and her future.
It also gave more insight about what specifically happened after Michelle's body was found, and Jennifer's time at the "facility".
I did find things moved a bit too quick at some points, such as her getting the telephone job so quick. Also, I was wondering why she made the decision to go by her real name, and how that would actually play out for her in Exmouth and her future.
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