Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Laurel Leaf Books
Pages
202
Description
A photograph of a missing girl on a milk carton leads Janie on a search for her real identity.
Series
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1990-03-05
Physical description
202 p.; 6.8 inches
ISBN
0440220653 / 9780440220657
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User reviews
LibraryThing member chrisblocker
I was in the sixth grade. We were having one of those Scholastic book orders that made reading so exciting. This book caught my attention. What could be more captivating than a book about a kid finding out they're kidnapped?!! I begged my mom to order it and she did. Shortly thereafter, the book
Some time later that year, this kid named Joey mentioned the book. He was cool. He asked if I'd read it. Was this a trap? “I have a copy—but only because my mom wanted to read it,” I said. He said he'd read the book and it was awesome, that I should definitely read it. Again, part of me wanted to read The Face on the Milk Carton, but I really didn't have time for it. I was going to get a Z shaved on the side of my head, work for Ferrari, and sing backup for Bobby Brown: I was way too cool for books.
I wish I'd listened to Joey. I probably would've liked this book more as a twelve year old than as a thirty-five year old. That being said, I was surprised by how much I did enjoy the novel as an adult. No, it's not some great work of literature. But what it is is captivating. I was enthralled by what Janie would do. I was pulled in, reading chapter after chapter in a single sitting. Was I captivated enough to read the rest of the books in the series? No. Nevertheless, The Face on the Milk Carton was a wonderful ride of adolescent “what ifs.”
One thing that surprised me about this novel was the amount of sex. Had I read it back in grade school as was the original plan, I probably would've been ashamed and confused by what I'd read. In my opinion, The Face on the Milk Carton is more a young adult novel than a child's story. Damn Scholastic for trying to corrupt my youth!
And what's up with Janie's lactose intolerance? It's constantly being mentioned. Girl cannot consume dairy without dire consequence. Apt condition to have given the title? Perhaps. But what kind of pizza is this girl eating? Does heated cheese somehow not qualify as dairy? How does the writer and the editors miss this contradiction?
Despite its flaws in logic and storytelling, The Face on the Milk Carton was a great adventure. I didn't learn anything, I wasn't moved by the condition of these characters, but I was entertained. And if that is the point of this book, then the author succeeded. Thanks, Joey. It took over twenty years, but you finally convinced me.
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was in my hands, and suddenly I was ashamed. I was a boy on the verge of junior high school. I watched sports, liked cars and video games. I was too cool for a book with a pig-tailed girl on the cover.Some time later that year, this kid named Joey mentioned the book. He was cool. He asked if I'd read it. Was this a trap? “I have a copy—but only because my mom wanted to read it,” I said. He said he'd read the book and it was awesome, that I should definitely read it. Again, part of me wanted to read The Face on the Milk Carton, but I really didn't have time for it. I was going to get a Z shaved on the side of my head, work for Ferrari, and sing backup for Bobby Brown: I was way too cool for books.
I wish I'd listened to Joey. I probably would've liked this book more as a twelve year old than as a thirty-five year old. That being said, I was surprised by how much I did enjoy the novel as an adult. No, it's not some great work of literature. But what it is is captivating. I was enthralled by what Janie would do. I was pulled in, reading chapter after chapter in a single sitting. Was I captivated enough to read the rest of the books in the series? No. Nevertheless, The Face on the Milk Carton was a wonderful ride of adolescent “what ifs.”
One thing that surprised me about this novel was the amount of sex. Had I read it back in grade school as was the original plan, I probably would've been ashamed and confused by what I'd read. In my opinion, The Face on the Milk Carton is more a young adult novel than a child's story. Damn Scholastic for trying to corrupt my youth!
And what's up with Janie's lactose intolerance? It's constantly being mentioned. Girl cannot consume dairy without dire consequence. Apt condition to have given the title? Perhaps. But what kind of pizza is this girl eating? Does heated cheese somehow not qualify as dairy? How does the writer and the editors miss this contradiction?
Despite its flaws in logic and storytelling, The Face on the Milk Carton was a great adventure. I didn't learn anything, I wasn't moved by the condition of these characters, but I was entertained. And if that is the point of this book, then the author succeeded. Thanks, Joey. It took over twenty years, but you finally convinced me.
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LibraryThing member dbhutch
Janie is sixteen and loves her friends and parents, raised with everything she could want. She is tired of drinking milk. but being lactose intolerant she picks milk one day, and it will by chance her life, The girl on the back in the missing picture looks a lot like her and she remembers the dress
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and starts to have flash backs of her former life, She also decides she loves her parents that raised her to much to turn them in. Show Less
LibraryThing member Crewman_Number_6
I chose to read this book because it was on the "100 most frequently challenged books" list. I don't believe in banning books from libraries, but I do believe in encouraging people not to read books that are mind numbing drivel. This book could have been so much better if the author had stuck to
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the story and left out the silly sub-plot of Janey and her boyfriend deciding to have sex or not. Please save your mind for a better piece of fiction. Show Less
LibraryThing member frootloops
"The Face on the Milk carton looked like any ordinary little girl: hair in tight pigtails, a dress with a narrow white collar, a three year old who had been kidnapped twelve years ago from a shopping mall in New Jersey."
Janie looked and starred in amazement at the milk carton.Could it be, Janie
The Face on The Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney is a powerful novel,that will leave you on the edge of you on the edge of your seat. The myterious parents, the milk carton, no birth certifacites. Those are all part of her twisted life. I don't think Janie is an easy girl to relate to. Sometimes during the book you get inside her head, but, I enjoy how she thinks. Its for all genders. If you enjoy Contemporary Realistic Fiction you'll certanly enjoy Caroline B. Cooney's The Face of The Milk Carton.
Janie looked and starred in amazement at the milk carton.Could it be, Janie
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Johnson? My parents kidnapped me?The Face on The Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney is a powerful novel,that will leave you on the edge of you on the edge of your seat. The myterious parents, the milk carton, no birth certifacites. Those are all part of her twisted life. I don't think Janie is an easy girl to relate to. Sometimes during the book you get inside her head, but, I enjoy how she thinks. Its for all genders. If you enjoy Contemporary Realistic Fiction you'll certanly enjoy Caroline B. Cooney's The Face of The Milk Carton.
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LibraryThing member Omrythea
An exciting scenario... What if you were a missing child... then what? I enjoyed reading this book.
LibraryThing member kprongs51235
This was book was about a girl who sees her picture on a milk carton and her whole life falls apart. Her parents may be her grandparents, and her mother was in a cult, or was she her mother?? She is still looking for her real family, but does she really want to start a whole new life?? The story
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continues in "what ever happened to Janie?", "the voice on the radio" and "What Janie found". Show Less
LibraryThing member Roisin600
Compelling Story, Beautifully written Unputdownable. Topical for Summer 2007.
LibraryThing member craigwsmithtoo
Janie Johnson isn't supposed to drink milk. She is lactose intolerant. One day at lunch, she grabs a carton from her friend and drinks it. As she looks at the carton, she sees the face of a little girl in a familiar dress staring back at her.
Years ago, they used to put missing children's pictures
What does this mean about her parents? Her life? It is quite a mystery that takes you through several books in search of answers. I read the first two. This one is definately worth reading.
Years ago, they used to put missing children's pictures
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on milk cartons. This little girl is...Janie?What does this mean about her parents? Her life? It is quite a mystery that takes you through several books in search of answers. I read the first two. This one is definately worth reading.
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LibraryThing member jrodriguez
This book is about a girl named Janie. One day she picked up a milk carton and it said somebody’s name close to hers. Janie had been thinking her parents kidnapped her before she saw the milk carton. One day Janie asked her parents questions like, “why don't I have any baby pictures or a birth
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certificate”, they told her that they were her grandparents not her parents. Janie's real mother Hannah left her with them when she was little because she was caught up in a party and she had been running from them and wanted to go back. What they told her wasn't as much as necessary and Janie knew that was not it. She had been having bad dreams at night about her real family. One day her and Reeve drove to New Jersey and looked up Springs. There was no Hannah, but there was Springs. Later in the story she was learning more and found out that Hannah had kidnapped her because she was lonely. She left Janie with her mother and father so they can raise Janie on their own. Show Less
LibraryThing member librarykathy
One morning Janie is sitting down to eat her cereal and discovers to her absolute astonishment that she is on a milk carton. This story relates her journey to finding her natural parents. The book is part of a series, each book being just as good as the others.
LibraryThing member indygo88
An interesting premise. The ending took me kind of by surprise, although the fact that there is a sequel (and then some) makes more sense now. It does read like a teen/young adult book, and I may have enjoyed it more had I read it at that age. Still, rather enjoyable. Not yet sure if I'll read the
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sequel or not...?! Show Less
LibraryThing member Leeny182
I read this back in elementary school. It was a really good book from what I remember. Story about a young child who is abducted. The woman who adopts her convinces everyone that its her child but then leaves her with her parents. The girl grows up thinking that these people are her grandparents
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and her grandparents honestly believe that this is their granddaughter. Good book for a young reader. I believe they also made it a movie. Show Less
LibraryThing member 1bigredhorse
I really liked the book, but was very disappointed in the ending.
LibraryThing member escondidolibrary
Janey Johnson recognizes herself as being the missing child on the milk cartons her friends are drinking from at lunch. Could she have forgotten something as serious as being kidnapped at age 3? Could her wonderful parents have done something so awful? I loved this book. There are a lot of twists
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and turns that leave you wondering what Janey's going to do next. Show Less
LibraryThing member smrenfroe
This book is about following clues to find the truth. In this mystery, Janie wishes she were some more fascinating person onlt to find out that she was kidnaped when she was 3. She searches for her real family behind her current family's back. She keeps this all a secret and it makes her sick. She
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entrusts her one friend Reeve with her secret and he helps her. the truth finally comes out in the end and Janie who is really Jennie calls her real family to let them know she's alive and well. Show Less
LibraryThing member carolina221
The Face on the Milk Carton is about a girl who's name is Janie Johnson and is a a fifteen year old who is having lunh with her friends and suddenly sees a girl on a milk carton and says that its herbut her friends dont belive her. So then she tries to figure out whats the truth and her parents
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tell her that they are her grandparents and says that her mom was in a cult and wanted her to have a normal life so they raised her. So then she doen't believe her and goes to New Jersey wiht her boy friend Reeve and sees red heads and she assumes that they are her brothers because she has red hair. Later her boyfriend tells his sister and they think that her "mom" kidnapped her becuse she was lonley. At the end she sends a letter by accident and calls her real family. Show Less
LibraryThing member amspicer
This is a story of a fifteen year-old girl named Janie whose life changes the moment she see's a familiar face on a milk carton. One day when Janie was eating lunch with her friends she notcied a milk carton that had a missing child report on it. The closer she looked, the more she realized that
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the little girl on the carton was her. Or at least she thought. Janie soon began to investigate this issue by rummaging through her "so-called" families attic where she finds a dress that is identical to the one in the missing persons photo. She also comes across a box which says "HANNAH" on it. She had never heard her parents discuss this names before which began to worry her even more. As the story continues, she finally approaches her mother and father about the issue and they respond by a convincing story. Janie still found herself wondering about the truth in their whole story which lead to further investigation. Eventually Janie looks up the family who put the add on the carton and finds quickly that she has much in common with the other children playing outside... Show Less
LibraryThing member jgbyers
A typical school day for the fifteen year old Janie ends up changing her life during lunch period as she stares at the picture of a kidnapped child on the milk carton that she recognizes as herself. This incident brings back flashbacks where Janie Johnson (actually Jennie Spring) begins to remember
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her real family and the circumstances surrounding her abduction. With support from her confidante and boyfriend Reeve, Janie eventually confronts her parents and learns that she was left with them by their daughter Hannah. The rest of the story explains the steps to her existence. Show Less
LibraryThing member pybas18
I had to read this for a book for a book report and I didn't want to read it but then i got around to reading it and couldn't stop. It was a good book and I'm glad that I had to read this book. It was a page turner.
LibraryThing member brittneywest
This book reveals the uneasiness of a young girl of 15 who finds out that she was adopted when she was 3 years old. When she is reunited with her biological parents, she is emotionally disconnected. Towards the end, she chooses th stay with her adoptive parents because she feels they truely love
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her. I feel like this book can be heavily related to some students who have to face tough choices in their lives. Show Less
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
We’ve all seen them, the faces of the missing children staring out from grainy pictures, knowing that there is a sad story behind each one. But what if the face of the missing child was your face? In The Face On the Milk Carton this is what happens to Janie Johnson, a happy, well-adjusted fifteen
I was totally riveted to this book, literally couldn’t put it down. The author took this premise and made a heart wrenching, true to life story. Janie works her way through a maze of emotions, from outright denial to slow, sad acceptance and we are right there with her every step of the way.
I am immediately ordering the next book in the continuation of Janie’s journey, What Happened To Janie as I can’t wait to see how her life evolves. I highly recommend this book .
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year old, and her life is never the same.I was totally riveted to this book, literally couldn’t put it down. The author took this premise and made a heart wrenching, true to life story. Janie works her way through a maze of emotions, from outright denial to slow, sad acceptance and we are right there with her every step of the way.
I am immediately ordering the next book in the continuation of Janie’s journey, What Happened To Janie as I can’t wait to see how her life evolves. I highly recommend this book .
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LibraryThing member mdkladke
This is a wonderful book and also a wonderful movie. Janie finds herself on the back of a milk carton and she doesn't know what to think. Did her parents kidnap her? Or so she thinks they are her parents. Very good book and it really makes you think, what if that was your face on the milk carton?
LibraryThing member mbuch
15-year-old Janie Johnson, the main character, sees the face of herself at 3-years old on a milk carton, identified as a missing person. Janie begins to wonder if the picture could really be her as she probes her memory to flashback 12 years back. She investigates and experiences a parade of
Cooney did a great job at creating suspense and tension. It was almost impossible to figure out the mysterious situation before it was revealed in the end. I liked Janie and also enjoyed the way the author portrayed the parents, The Springs, and her friend Reeve. This is a great book for teens, especially for those who love suspense with a great deal of clues and details!
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emotions and questions afte her parents give her an explanation. As she struggles with understanding the real truth about her parents and what happened before the age of 3, she turns to her neighbor for advice. She tracks down the Spring family in New Jersey and finally pieces everything together. Cooney did a great job at creating suspense and tension. It was almost impossible to figure out the mysterious situation before it was revealed in the end. I liked Janie and also enjoyed the way the author portrayed the parents, The Springs, and her friend Reeve. This is a great book for teens, especially for those who love suspense with a great deal of clues and details!
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LibraryThing member molliewatts
How would you react if one day you looked at a missing person's report and found your child self staring back at you? This is exactly what happens to sophomore Janie Johnson and what follows is a whirlwind of emotional discovery for the teen.
LibraryThing member azjhajm
This book is very good. I especially enjoy the fact that Janie questions her parents throughout the book. It's crazy, because she would have never suspected her parents to have kidnapped her and taken her from her rightful parents. Janie is a sort of awkward character, because her life is so caught
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up in pleasing everyone else that she forgets who she is and what her REAL name is. This story is an easy, quick read, and I highly recommend this book to teens. I say this because, the story is really about finding yourself, and who you really are. Teens in high school struggle to know who they really are because they are so caught up in everything else that they forget the big picture. Show Less
Awards
Nebraska Golden Sower Award (Honor — 1993)
Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — Middle Grade — 1993)
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (Nominee — 1993)
Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee — Young Adult — 1993)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 1992)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 1993)
Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 1993)
Iowa Teen Award (Winner — 1993)
Colorado Blue Spruce Award (Winner — 1996)
California Young Reader Medal (Nominee — 1993)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — Young Adult — 1995)
Call number
YA A Coo