The Face on the Milk Carton (Hardcover)

by Caroline B. Cooney (Author) "Janie finished her essay..." (more)
Key Phrases: silver notebook, New Jersey, Jennie Spring, Janie Johnson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The picture of a missing child printed on a milk carton attracts the attention of 15-year-old Jane Johnson. A glimpse of the girl's polka-dot dress causes memories to surface, and Jane begins to review her past and question her true identity. It is nearly impossible for Jane to perceive her loving parents as kidnappers; the task of gathering evidence and drawing conclusions proves less difficult than confronting the undeniable truth. As the novel ends, Jane has found the courage to contact her real parents, but Cooney cleverly leaves the events that follow to readers' imaginations. Although the book's plot is based largely on coincidences, Cooney's skilled writing makes even the most unlikely events seem plausible. The roller-coaster ride Jane experiences with her emotions is both absorbing and convincing. Strong characterizations and suspenseful, impeccably-paced action add to this novel's appeal. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
Grade 7-10-- The message on the milk carton reads, "Have you seen this child?" Three-year-old Jennie Spring was kidnapped 12 years earlier, but Janie Johnson, looking at the photo, suddenly knows that she is that child. Fragments of memory and evidence accumulate, and when she demands to know about her early childhood years, her parents confess what they believe to be true, that she is really their grandchild, the child of their long-missing daughter who had joined a cult. Janie wants to accept this, but she cannot forget Jennie's family and their loss. Finally, almost against her will, she seeks help and confides in her parents. Her mother insists that she call the Spring family, and the book ends as she calls them. Many young people fantasize about having been adopted or even kidnapped, but the decisions Janie must face are painful and complex, and she experiences denial, anger, and guilt while sorting her way toward a solution. Janie's boyfriend--sensible, funny, with problems of his own--is an excellent foil for her intensity. Their romance is natural and believable. Cooney again demonstrates an excellent ear for dialogue and a gift for protraying responsible middle-class teen-agers trying to come to terms with very real concerns. A good choice for readers of Norma Fox Mazer's Taking Terri Muller (Morrow, 1983). --Tatiana Castleton, Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library, CA
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (April 13, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038532328X
• ISBN-13: 978-0385323284
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (590 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,218 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, August 10, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Face on the Milk Carton (Mass Market Paperback)

The Face on the Milk Carton is one of the best books I've read, and I read a lot! The plot starts right away when 15 year old Janie picks up a milk carton and glances at a "missing" ad of a little girl. No big deal... until she recognizes the picture. It is herself, years before. Janie and her boyfriend, Reeve, try to get to the bottom of the complicated story. She can't imagine her kind parents being kidnappers... but who else could it be? What happened? The plot of this book was very creative and exciting, and I couldn't put it down! I recommended it to all of my friends, because it has it all - romance, mystery, drama... And they all loved it! I would recommend this book for everyone ages 12 and up! Also, if you liked this, be sure to read the sequels, Whatever Happened to Janie?, The Voice on the Radio, and What Janie Found.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Clooney, March 30, 2000

By	Megan Christman (Allentown) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Face on the Milk Carton (Mass Market Paperback)

I gave The Face On The Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney four stars. I'm not an avid reader, but when I picked this book up I couldn't put it down. It had a believable, tension filled plot with action and suspense. In the book Janie Johnson, recognizing her own three year old, two inch face on her milk carton, starts an emotional trip that takes her from her high school lunch room to the truth about her identity. Janie unravels the mystery of her birth. She tries and succeeds in finding out if her parents are her real parents or if she was kidnapped ten years ago as a young child. The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is because it kept jumping around, getting off the subject it was trying to explain, then coming back to it a couple pages later. I really liked The Face on the Milk Carton and I would recommend it to any teenager or adult.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Face on the Milk Carton, May 30, 2002

By	TOM (MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Face on the Milk Carton (Mass Market Paperback)

Janie Johnson was a normal tenth grade girl. She had loving parents and friends. She did everything fifteen-year-olds usually do. Then one day, something out of the ordinary happened. Janie came across a picture of a missing child on the side of her friend's milk carton. She looked closer and began to realize that the little girl was actually her. Over time, the clues start to piece together. Memories come back to Janie in "Daymares". She starts to worry that her parents might not really be her parents after all. She wonders if the people that brought her up had kidnapped her. She doesn't want to believe it, and tries to forget it all, but the clues keep coming and she keeps seeing memories. Suddenly, Janie's life isn't so normal anymore. Her friends notice that something is wrong, but Janie won't tell anyone what's going on. She decides to do some research of her own to get to the bottom of this, leading up to the suspenseful ending.

I would definitely recommend this book to all teenage readers. There is always something exciting happening, which made me want to read more every time. I enjoyed reading about people my age and being able to relate to some things. It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. It was always unpredictable what would happen next. I liked this book because it was suspenseful and action packed. I've never wondered what it would be like to not know where I came from, and if my parents were really who I think they are. This made it interesting to read a story about it. I enjoyed reading about something I've never thought of before. It was definitely a good book and I'm sure other people will enjoy it to.