Common Sense Media Review
A gripping, emotionally complex page-turner.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 23 kid reviews
Kids say the book evokes mixed feelings, with some readers debating its appropriateness for younger audiences due to mature themes, while others praise its engaging storyline and character development. Many found the central plot compelling, but opinions varied significantly on the handling of sexual content and character relationships.
- mixed feelings
- age appropriateness
- engaging storyline
- character development
- varied opinions
- sexual content
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
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.
Is It Any Good?
Cooney addresses Janie's problems honestly and openly; teens will be 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.
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.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about identity and family relationships. The milk carton forces Janie to question everything she thinks she knows about her life. Have you ever learned something surprising about an adult that caused you to see them in a new light?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Family Life
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Laurel-Leaf
- Publication date : January 1, 1991
- Number of pages : 184
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate