Summary: Have you ever wondered if your parents really are your parents? What if you found out that some people, who have been looking for you for years, say that they're your parents? What would you do? For Janie, this is exactly what happens. She discovers that the missing person picture on the back of a milk carton is a picture of her when she was young. She even remembers the dress that she's wearing in the missing person picture. Janie is beside herself, not knowing how to react or if to even believe it. At one point she's a regular teenager trying to convince her parents to get her driver's permit the next she's wondering if Janie is her real name. When Janie discovers her true identity and her parents true identity, her questions and problems only grow. If what her parents, now grandparents, say is true that she was for removed from her location for her own safety then why is someone publicly looking for her. When Janie does a little investigating on her own, she finds that she has similar characteristics as those who are looking for her, more so than what she has with her grandparents or her supposed mother. This is definitely a riveting story from start to finish, but be warned there are other books in the series.
Reference: Cooney, C. (1990). The face on the milk carton. New York, NY. Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers.
Impressions: I was skeptical at first when I started reading this book. It was a recommended book, plus the cover grabbed my attention. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised. The plot was unique and mysterious enough to keep me reading. Some of the characters were a bit two-dimensional and others were completely forgotten about, but the story line more than makes up for it. The suspense keeps building because it's aligned with the whims of a teenage girl, the protagonist, who is hesitant, indecisive, doubtful, and unsure of herself, which is advantageous for a suspenseful mystery. I enjoyed this book and would recommend for middle and high school students.
Professional Review: Jane Johnson's life changes forever when, at 15, she sees her own face in the missing child box of a milk carton. As she searches for the truth, memories of her early years come back to haunt her, causing upheaval in her relationships with friends and family. Brenahan wisely delivers a restrained performance with modest voicing that does not diminish the dramatic impact of the story; her pauses between chapters and phrasing heighten the effect. For the most part her clear, precise and meticulous diction is a pleasure to listen to. A fine reading. Category: Fiction Audiobooks. KLIATT Codes: JS--Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 1998 (orig. 1990), Recorded Books, 4 tapes, 5.5 hrs. #95337.; Sturdy vinyl binder; plot notes., $34.00. Ages 12 to 18.
Rosenzweig, S. (July 1998). [Review for The face on the milk carton]. KLIATT Review (Vol. 32 No. 4) Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:3574/index.php/jbookdetail/jqbookdetail?page=1&pos=3&isbn=9780788719165.
Library Use: I think this would be a great book to promote during banned book week. It surprises me that this has been a challenged book ever since it was published. I think this could be read for a book club and ask people to judge whether it is deserving of being banned. I feel this book is a great conversation starter on the subject of censorship and our rights, besides it's a good book to read.
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