The Perfect Child

What early indicators suggest Janie has ill intentions toward Hannah? How does Hannah’s reaction to her initial instincts about Janie worsen the situation and their relationship? Why does Christopher refuse to see what Hannah sees?

Analyze how Janie’s early relationship with her mother affected future relationships with other mother figures. Why is a child’s relationship with their primary caregiver so important? Use research and textual examples to support your analysis.

Evaluate the role that social workers, therapists, and other professionals play in the story. How do their successes and failures affect Janie’s integration into the Bauer family? Does the novel critique or support the systems designed to address cases of trauma and abuse?