The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney
Publication Date April 13, 1996
Source: Library
Genres: Young Adult
Goodreads
The face on the milk carton looks like an ordinary little girl: hair in tight pigtails, a dress with a narrow white collar, a three-year-old who was kidnapped more than twelve years ago from a shopping mall in New Jersey.
As fifteen-year-old Janie Johnson stares at the milk carton, she feels overcome with shock. She knows that little girl is she. But how could it be true?
Janie can't believe that her loving parents kidnapped her, until she begins to piece together clues that don't make sense. Why are there no pictures of Janie before she was four? Her parents have always said they didn't have a camera. Now that explanation sounds feeble. Something is terribly wrong, and Janie is afraid to find out what happened more than twelve years ago.
In this gripping page-turner, the reader will unravel — as Janie does — the twisted events that changed the lives of two families forever.
Like all books or movies that have a tragic ending the story begins with Janie Johnson having a perfect life, loving friends and family, good grades and a crush on the boy next door. All around Janie comes off as the average “girl next door”. But her world comes crashing down when lactose intolerant Janie sees a missing girl on a milk carton, she is convinced that the three-year-old is her and becomes obsessed with the prospect.
I have recently gotten into watching the ID Chanel (Investigation Discovery) Almost all the shows focus on A) the Manson family or B) missing persons and women in peril. The latter fits the subject matter of The Face on the Milk Carton. It is a fast-paced thriller filled with a plot that grows into one thinking — this is screwed up!
Despite having read this several times before and was therefore fully aware of Janie’s outcome, but that still didn’t stop me from reading at the speed of lightning and hoping for a happy ending. Of course, that just can’t be, even though both respected parties seem loving and well-rounded, the girl on the milk carton is thrust between a rock and a hard place. I think part of the reason why I like this book so much is because it was one of my favorites growing up but is also extremely original. Besides, what adolescent hasn’t wished they were adopted at one point or another?
This was one of my favorites as a child! I love ID too.
I remember reading that book in junior high.
I used to see this book all the time as a kid but never read it… I think the idea of a missing child (which I thought it was about) scared me too much. Thanks for the review. I hope to read it soon!
I loved this book growing up. It is so original and kind of shocking. I love it. Thanks for reminding me of such a wonderful book.
This was one of my favorites as a young girl as well. I read it a couple of times, but I haven't revisited it as an adult.