Leaving Time
“Leaving Time” by Jodi Picoult is a gripping novel that intertwines mystery, grief, and the bond between humans and elephants. The story follows Jenna Metcalf, a 13-year-old girl searching for her mother, Alice, a renowned elephant researcher who disappeared a decade earlier under mysterious circumstances. With the help of a skeptical psychic and a disgraced detective, Jenna uncovers buried secrets about her mother’s work and the tragic events at an elephant sanctuary. The novel explores themes of memory, loss, and maternal love, while weaving in fascinating insights into elephant behavior and emotions. Picoult blends emotional depth with suspense, culminating in a surprising twist that redefines the narrative.
Chapter 21: Jenna
byPicoult, Jodi
Jenna, the teenage protagonist, recounts how she exploits the invisibility of children to stow away on a Greyhound bus without a ticket. She blends in with a distracted family to board undetected, then hides in the bathroom until departure. Her destination is Tennessee, where she hopes to find Gideon, a former employee connected to her missing mother. Jenna reflects on her grandmother’s likely anger and her own realization that this journey—sparked by her father’s unusual reaction to a pebble necklace—might finally provide answers about her mother’s disappearance a decade earlier.
The chapter reveals Jenna’s complex emotions as she pursues Gideon, who accompanied elephants from her father’s bankrupt sanctuary to Tennessee. She wonders if Gideon reunited with her mother or knows her whereabouts, recalling childhood observations of their possible romantic connection. Jenna’s internal monologue oscillates between hope and resentment, struggling with the possibility that her mother might have chosen happiness without her. She outlines four imagined scenarios for her reunion, ranging from joyful reconciliation to devastating rejection, with the latter being too painful to fully contemplate.
Jenna’s journey is fueled by fragmented memories and internet research, contrasting with her grandmother’s disapproval of such investigations. She acknowledges that Virgil (likely a detective or investigator) will probably deduce her destination but feels compelled to proceed alone. The narrative highlights Jenna’s vulnerability beneath her resourcefulness—her need for answers outweighs the risks of traveling unsupervised. She briefly considers Serenity’s psychic abilities but ultimately trusts her own instincts in this quest.
As the bus makes stops through major cities, Jenna anticipates being intercepted by authorities but remains undetected. The chapter ends mid-thought, emphasizing the precariousness of her mission. Jenna’s determination to return “not alone” underscores her deep longing for familial connection, while her strategic evasion of adult attention demonstrates the cunning of a child forced to grow up too soon. The passage masterfully blends logistical details of her journey with poignant emotional introspection.
FAQs
1. What strategies does Jenna use to board the Greyhound bus without being noticed, and what does this reveal about her character?
Answer:
Jenna exploits the general tendency of adults to overlook children by blending in with a distracted family—following their older daughter onto the bus while the parents are preoccupied with luggage and younger siblings. She further avoids detection by hiding in the bathroom until departure and then pretending to sleep in an undesirable seat. This demonstrates Jenna’s resourcefulness, observational skills, and willingness to take calculated risks to achieve her goals. Her actions reflect a maturity beyond her years, as well as a sense of desperation to uncover the truth about her mother’s disappearance.2. Analyze Jenna’s four hypothetical scenarios about finding Gideon and her mother. What do these reveal about her emotional state and underlying fears?
Answer:
Jenna’s scenarios range from hopeful (reunion with a remorseful mother) to devastating (rejection or indifference). The progression shows her grappling with abandonment trauma and self-worth issues. Scenario 3—where Gideon admits her mother left him too—suggests Jenna seeks validation that her mother’s disappearance wasn’t personal. The unspoken Scenario 4 (her mother wishing Jenna hadn’t found her) reveals her deepest fear: being unwanted. These imagined outcomes highlight her vulnerability beneath her determined exterior, as well as her need for closure, even if painful.3. How does Jenna’s observation about adults ignoring children serve as both a practical tool and a thematic element in this chapter?
Answer:
Practically, Jenna uses societal invisibility of children to her advantage for bus travel, illustrating her street-smart adaptability. Thematically, it underscores her emotional isolation—her mother’s disappearance mirrors how adults “look away” from children’s needs. This motif recurs when Jenna recalls adults being careless around her, allowing her to witness Gideon and her mother’s relationship. The chapter critiques how society dismisses children’s perceptions while simultaneously showing how Jenna turns this marginalization into agency during her journey.4. What conflicting emotions does Jenna express about her mother, and how does this complexity drive her actions?
Answer:
Jenna harbors contradictory feelings: anger at her mother’s abandonment (“Shouldn’t I have been part of [her happiness]?”), yet longing for reunion (“dissolve in an implosion of joy”). She rationalizes that finding Gideon might explain her mother’s absence, but fears discovering her mother chose happiness without her. This tension fuels her risky trip—she seeks truth even if painful, demonstrating that unresolved grief outweighs her fear of consequences (like her grandmother’s anger). Her empathy (“I didn’t wish her miserable”) contrasts with self-protective bitterness, making her quest psychologically nuanced.5. Evaluate Jenna’s decision to leave without informing Serenity or her grandmother. Is this justified based on the chapter’s context?
Answer:
Jenna’s choice reflects both necessity and youthful impulsivity. Pragmatically, telling adults would likely stop her mission—her grandmother would prevent it, and Serenity might feel obligated to intervene. However, her assumption that Serenity will “figure it out” shows immature optimism, downplaying their genuine concern. While her note to her grandmother demonstrates some responsibility, turning off her phone reveals avoidance of accountability. The decision is narratively compelling but ethically ambiguous—her trauma explains, but doesn’t fully excuse, the deception toward caring figures.
Quotes
1. “When you’re a kid, most people actively go out of their way to not notice you.”
This opening line captures Jenna’s perspective on her invisibility as a teenager, which becomes a recurring theme in the chapter. It explains how she exploits this societal blind spot to stow away on the bus undetected.
2. “Whatever it was, something fell into place so that I would remember Gideon, and how important he was to me and my mother.”
This quote marks the pivotal moment of realization that drives Jenna’s journey. It shows how her father’s reaction triggered buried memories about Gideon’s connection to her missing mother.
3. “See, that’s the other thing about people who think kids are invisible: They forget to be careful around you.”
This insightful observation reveals how Jenna gathered crucial information about her mother’s relationship with Gideon. It underscores the chapter’s theme of underestimated youth perception.
4. “But, I mean, shouldn’t I have been part of that equation?”
This emotionally raw question exposes Jenna’s central conflict - her struggle to reconcile her mother’s possible happiness with her own abandonment. It reveals the deep personal stakes of her search.
5. “Just not alone.”
This powerful two-word closing statement encapsulates Jenna’s determined hope for reunion while hinting at the emotional vulnerability beneath her tough exterior. It serves as both resolution and cliffhanger for the chapter.