The Perfect Child

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of child abuse, graphic violence, death, addiction, and mental illness (including postpartum psychosis).

Christoper finally makes it back home after days in the hospital and finds the house exactly as it was left. There is rotting food lying around, and it feels strange without his family there. Christopher looks around the house for clues about what happened the day Hannah was found in the bathroom with Cole and Janie. He finds Cole’s baby book with diary entries from Hannah written throughout it. The entries begin with Hannah expressing how she feels like a prisoner in her home and wants Janie to be taken back. With each entry, Hannah’s animosity becomes more severe until she is calling Janie a demon with black eyes who talks to herself in Latin. Hannah’s last entry reads “Today is the day” (302), implying that she intended to “do” something about Janie.

Christopher goes to Allison’s house, where Piper and Dr. Chandler are already waiting for him. Everyone gathers around Janie to hear her tell the story of what happened, and Dr. Chandler gives her some dolls to help explain it.