Looking for JJ

Carol is Jennifer’s mother. Carol became pregnant with Jennifer at a young age and was ill-equipped to become a mother. Carol works as a model but often struggles to get new jobs and make ends meet. While she sometimes displays genuine affection for Jennifer, more often she acts as if she wishes Jennifer were less of an inconvenience. She frequently loses custody of Jennifer or takes her to stay with Jennifer’s grandmother for long periods of time. While Carol is first portrayed as glamorous, this proves to be a thin mask. Carol’s career devolves into pornographic photo shoots to make ends meet, and she tries to pressure 10-year-old Jennifer into participating. Even during Jennifer’s imprisonment and after her release, Carol thinks of nothing but fame, publicity, and money. Carol is depicted as a shallow, desperate character who does a severe disservice to her young daughter.

Rosie is Alice’s foster mother, who she has been staying with for about six months. Rosie—warm, welcoming, and motherly—represents the calm and nurturing maternal figure that Alice lacked growing up. Rosie is dedicated to taking care of Alice and ensuring her happiness and health. By the end of the story, however, Rosie is unable to follow Alice into Alice’s new life.

Frankie is Alice’s boyfriend and a student at the local university. At first, Frankie is depicted as aggressive and controlling. As we get to know Frankie better, however, we learn that he is an immature but kind young man who feels true affection for Alice.

Michelle is Jennifer’s childhood best friend who lives next door. Bossy and assertive, Michelle likes to define the terms of her friendships and tell other people what to do. Jennifer is desperate to be friends with Michelle and ends up accidentally killing her when Michelle refuses to be her friend.

Lucy is another neighborhood girl who Jennifer befriends. Lucy is a few years younger than Michelle and Jennifer, and she is shy and reticent most of the time. When Lucy’s mother suffers a heart attack, Lucy comes to live with Michelle for several weeks.

Sonia is a girl who attends Jennifer’s school. When Michelle and Jennifer get into a fight, Michelle briefly befriends Sonia. In a fit of rage, Jennifer strikes Sonia in the head with a recorder.

Mr. Cottis is a photographer who works with Jennifer’s mother on pornographic shoots. Mr. Cottis is depicted as sneaky and untrustworthy, and he traffics in child pornography.