Looking for JJ

Finished July 26
Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy
This is a teen novel that is insightful and sad and hopeful. We start the book with Alice Tully, who is trying to create a new life and future for herself. Six years ago Jennifer Jones (JJ) at the age of 11, killed her friend and went to jail for it. She is due to be released and the newspapers are in an uproar about it. What they don't know is that she was secretly placed with a social worker six months earlier and goes by the new identity of Alice Tully. We see how Alice struggles with her guilt even as she makes friends and holds down a job. She even has a boyfriend. But the attention of the newspapers makes her nervous and unsure.
We go back six years and see what Jennifer Jones was doing, the life she was living and the events that led to the terrible tragedy. Why did she do it?
Back with Alice, we see her handle the fast moving events, trying to hold her life together.
The insights into a child's and adolescent's mind are interesting and have the ring of truth. This is a book that will prompt questions and discussion. A great book club read.