The Face on the Milk Carton
Common Sense Note
A gripping page-turner that's likely to inspire serious thinking about the importance of families.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Monica Wyatt
Teenagers constantly struggle to find their own identities. This book pushes that issue to extremes with a stunning story. Janie Johnson confronts the abrupt truth that she doesn't know who she really is. She doesn't even know her real name.
Even worse, she has no idea who her parents are--neither the parents she knows, who may be kidnappers, nor the parents who lost her. And her friendship with Reeve has moved into sexual awareness. The author faces these problems honestly and openly.
Teenagers appreciate that honesty. They seem drawn to this book for the intriguing story, and because they recognize the characters as real teenagers like themselves. They instantly become caught up in a good mystery, but they also begin to think about the importance and complexity of family relationships. Janie's dilemma reflects their own uncertainty about life.
This is an outstanding choice for reluctant readers, or for anyone who enjoys a real mystery. Fans of THE FACE ON THE MILK CARTON will be eager to get their hands on the book's sequels, Whatever Happened to Janie? and The Voice on the Radio.
Plot Summary:
What if the face on the milk carton was your own? When fifteen-year-old Janie Johnson sees her own picture on a carton of milk, she wonders whether her loving parents are actually kidnappers. If she admits what she knows, will she lose them? This roller coaster of suspense leaves readers eager for its sequel.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentMild references to adolescent sexual desire. Janie approaches having sex, decides against it, but later hints that she may agree to sex in the future. |
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ViolenceJanie discovers that she was kidnapped from her real family. Initially, she is unsure whether the parents she has now are the kidnappers. |
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Social BehaviorJanie and her boyfriend cut school one day, arrive home late, and do not call their parents, resulting in serious punishment. |
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