Looking for JJ

“In the past six months, though, she had read as much as she could get her hands on, and the question that lay under every word that had ever been printed was the same. How could a ten-year-old girl kill another child?” 

Alice is obsessed with articles and essays about Jennifer Jones and her crime. The question in this passage emphasizes the murky nature of innocence, guilt, and forgiveness. Alice is portrayed as troubled but not as fundamentally evil as the description of “child-killer” might suggest.

“Then there was Rosie herself. Rosie with her powerful hug and no-nonsense manner; Rosie who smelled of lemons and garlic and basil and who was always trying to fatten her up. Dear, sweet Rosie. Alice hadn’t known that such people existed.” 

Rosie represents an ideal maternal figure for Alice, something that she has never experienced. While living with Rosie, Alice finally has a stable and supportive home environment in which to grow and flourish. Rosie acts as a surrogate parent for Alice, providing the care and support she needs to get through a difficult time.

“Three children walked away from the cottages on the edge of the town towards Berwick Waters. Later that day only two of them came back.” 

This passage highlights the mystery posed at the beginning of the story: Why did Jennifer kill her friend? This question haunts Alice as much as it haunts the public at large, and she isn’t always able to provide a satisfactory answer for herself.