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 5: Jenna
byPicoult, Jodi
In Chapter 5 of *Leaving Time*, Jenna confronts Serenity, a psychic, about a dream involving her missing mother. Jenna clings to the hope that her mother is alive, despite Serenity’s vague and metaphorical descriptions. The dream features a woman with a blue scarf and an elephant, details Jenna latches onto as proof. Serenity cautions that psychic visions are often symbolic, recounting a past case where “China” and “rose” symbolized inherited china rather than literal locations. Jenna, however, remains undeterred, her desperation overshadowing skepticism as she imagines reuniting with her mother.
Jenna proposes using Serenity’s dream as new evidence to reopen her mother’s case, but Serenity dismisses the idea, explaining that law enforcement won’t consider psychic visions credible. Jenna counters by questioning how Serenity’s abilities work, prompting Serenity to describe her past methods of using personal items to locate missing children. Despite Serenity’s admission of her imperfect track record, Jenna remains convinced of her legitimacy, especially after Serenity unknowingly referenced the blue scarf Jenna had left behind earlier.
Determined to act, Jenna impulsively leads Serenity to the Stark Nature Preserve, a former elephant sanctuary in New Hampshire founded by Jenna’s father. She reveals her father’s work as an animal behaviorist and the sanctuary’s history, connecting it to the elephant in Serenity’s dream. Jenna’s urgency suggests she believes the vision points to this location, though Serenity remains skeptical. The chapter highlights Jenna’s unwavering hope and her willingness to interpret ambiguous clues as direct leads.
The chapter ends with Jenna urging Serenity to guide them further into the preserve, testing the psychic’s abilities in real time. Jenna’s mix of determination and vulnerability underscores her emotional journey—balancing logic with longing. Serenity’s reluctance contrasts with Jenna’s fervor, creating tension between skepticism and faith. The setting of the abandoned sanctuary adds a layer of mystery, leaving readers to wonder whether the dream holds truth or is merely another dead end in Jenna’s search.
FAQs
1. What evidence does Jenna use to convince herself that Serenity’s dream might genuinely be about her mother?
Answer:
Jenna cites three key pieces of evidence: the blue scarf (which her mother wore), the presence of an elephant (connecting to her family’s elephant sanctuary past), and the fact that Serenity couldn’t have known about the scarf Jenna left behind unless she was truly psychic. Additionally, Jenna notes that her mother’s disappearance isn’t prominent in online searches, making it unlikely Serenity fabricated the details through research. These elements collectively make Jenna willing to suspend disbelief, despite her initial skepticism about psychic readings (Chapter 5).2. How does Serenity explain the limitations and ambiguities of psychic information?
Answer:
Serenity uses the example of a client’s grandmother appearing to communicate symbols related to China (like the Great Wall and fortune cookies), which initially seemed irrelevant until the client realized it referred to her inherited rose-patterned china set. This illustrates how psychic visions might use metaphorical or indirect symbols rather than literal representations. Serenity emphasizes that interpretations are subjective—an elephant in a dream could symbolize an actual elephant or a larger obstacle, leaving room for uncertainty (Chapter 5).3. Analyze Jenna’s emotional response to the possibility her mother is alive. Why is her reaction complex rather than purely angry or joyful?
Answer:
Jenna’s reaction is layered because while she feels elated (“carbonated” happiness) at the thought of reuniting with her mother, she also acknowledges the unresolved pain of abandonment. She oscillates between imagining scenarios of confrontation (“ask her myself why she didn’t come for me”) and reconciliation (“crawl into her arms”). This complexity reflects her unresolved grief and the tension between hope and betrayal, showing how longing can coexist with anger when dealing with loss and potential rediscovery (Chapter 5).4. Why does Jenna take Serenity to the Stark Nature Preserve, and what does this reveal about her problem-solving approach?
Answer:
Jenna brings Serenity to the former elephant sanctuary because she interprets the elephant in the dream literally, connecting it to her family’s history. This reveals her pragmatic and determined nature: she actively tests Serenity’s vision against real-world clues rather than passively accepting the psychic’s interpretation. By physically retracing the dream’s imagery, Jenna demonstrates her willingness to bridge the gap between intuition and tangible evidence, even if it means confronting the past (Chapter 5).5. Evaluate Serenity’s self-doubt about her abilities. How does this impact Jenna’s trust in her?
Answer:
Serenity admits her “psychic arteries may have hardened” and references past inaccuracies (like the China/rose confusion), which could undermine her credibility. However, Jenna dismisses these doubts, arguing that past mistakes don’t invalidate current insights. This dynamic highlights Jenna’s desperation for answers—she clings to any hope, even if flawed. Serenity’s honesty paradoxically strengthens Jenna’s trust because it makes her seem more genuine, not like a charlatan hiding behind infallibility (Chapter 5).
Quotes
1. “when you desperately want to believe something’s true, you can convince yourself of just about anything.”
This quote captures Jenna’s internal conflict as she grapples with whether to trust Serenity’s psychic vision about her missing mother. It reflects the chapter’s theme of clinging to hope despite rational doubts.
2. “I’m too happy about the thought that if I play my cards right, I will see her again. Then I can choose to hate her or I can ask her myself why she didn’t come for me. Or I can just crawl into her arms and suggest we start from scratch.”
This emotional passage reveals Jenna’s complex feelings about her mother’s disappearance. The three possibilities she envisions represent the chapter’s central tension between longing and betrayal.
3. “Honey, there isn’t a detective in this country that’s going to take the dream of a psychic and write it up as formal evidence. It’s like asking the DA to call the Easter Bunny as a witness.”
Serenity’s blunt analogy highlights the skepticism surrounding psychic phenomena. This exchange establishes the story’s conflict between spiritual belief and legal/scientific systems.
4. “an elephant might not really be an elephant. It could be standing in for something else.”
This quote exemplifies Serenity’s explanation of how psychic symbolism works. It becomes crucially important later when the literal elephant sanctuary is revealed, showing how reality and psychic visions might intersect.
5. “I may not be psychic, but I know this much: She’s too curious about what that dream means not to follow.”
This turning point shows Jenna taking control of the investigation. It demonstrates her growing determination and marks the shift from passive hope to active pursuit of answers.