The Face on the Milk Carton

by Caroline B. Cooney

Book Overview

A psychological thriller about a teenager who sees her own face staring back at her from a missing children's notice on the back of a milk carton. An emotionally evocative and chilling read that seamlessly blends mystery and suspense for fans of A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER and WE WERE LIARS.

"It's a gripper. You can't put it down." --Entertainment Weekly

"A real page-turner." --Kirkus Reviews...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 038574238X
• ISBN13: 9780385742382
• Release Date: May 2012
• Publisher: Ember
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

I liked it.

This book was pretty short. I would've liked it better if the next book was combined with it. You're kind of left on a cliffhanger. I haven't gotten the next book.

Better than the film

Such a great read

Couldn’t put it down

This book was incredibly captivating. I found that I had a difficult time putting it down as I just wanted to know what happened next. Can’t wait to read the next one! 🤭🤪

Still remember every detail

I read this book when I was Very young. I loved it then and still remember the entire story. There are a few books I read at the age of 10 that I still remember reading let alone the entire story. Let that b very young. I loved it then and still remember the entire story. There are a few books I read at the age of 10 that I still remember reading let alone the entire story. Highly recommend for intermediate readers or a quick read for expert readers.

Couldn't put it down!

The only thing I didnt like, was how simple the book was! It was written at a 5th grade level, but it's an amazing, fast paced read

The Face on the Milk Carton-5 star book, no doubt about it!

The Face on the Milk Carton is definetly a 5 star book. If you love to read, you'll agree with me, as I love to read. The nonly 3 or less star reviews are from kids who don't really like to read-but you have to love this book, even if you don't like to read! Once I got so into the book, I read 130 pages in two hours, and I'm eleven. The whole series is outstanding. The only thing is, there is alot of intense romance. I'd reccomend this book to mature children (over 13 probably) only. I only have one thing left to say: I have a new favorite book!

Great book to introduce readers to a new author

After seeing the made for TV movie based on The Face on the Milk Carton, I knew the book would be great. I had heard of Caroline B Cooney before, but never read any of her books, and decided to give her a try.Janie Johnson thinks her name is boring, her life too generic, and wants an adventure, she wants to be someone else. As she sits in school and actually plans another life for herself, she knows it will never come true. But then, when her friends are all sitting around drinking milk from the school cafeteria, Janie can't believe her eyes. The picture of the missing child placed on the carton is herself. She remembers how she had her hair in pigtails, the dress she was wearing, everything. Janie is taken on an emotional rollercoaster ride, not trusting her mom and dad anymore, not telling her best friend (oddly named Sarah-Charlotte), and at the same time fighting romantic feelings towards her friend - and neighbor - Reeve. Throughout the book Janie confronts her fears, aquires Reeve as more than a friend, and finds out what happened when she was three years old - and whisked away from her home and family, to a new, loving group of people.This book is awesome, and I can't wait to read the next in the series, but this is definately not a book for kids under age 12. There is much talk aboud underaged, unmarried sex, and plenty of creepy - possibly frightening - nightmares that Janie suffers from. Overall grade - A

An Excellent book, You'll have to read!

The Face on the Milk CartonBy Caroline B. CoonieDate of review 9/20/02 I read the fascinating book, The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Coonie. This book is about a girl who saw her face on a milk carton under the missing ad and realizes the parents she knows and loves must not be her parents. Could they have possibly kidnapped her? Janie is the main character; she is the girl who spots her face on the milk carton. While trying to keep it a secret, she tries to figure out this mystery but at the same time she tears her self esteem apart. Reeve is Janie's boyfriend and next door neighbor, he helps Janie out along the way because he is the only one who knows Janie's secret. Sarah-Charlotte is Janie's best friend who doesn't understand what is going on because she doesn't know the secret. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the people who Janie thought were her parents for all these years. Caroline B. Coonie's message in this book is not to take your life for granted. Janie was always trying to write her name differently because she thought her name was boring. When Janie figured out her name really wasn't Janie Johnson she wished it was. Caroline B. Coonie's style of writing is making you want to read more and more by making you hang in suspense at the end or even the middle of a chapter. The most important event in this book is when Janie eats a peanut butter sandwich and needs milk afterwards. So Janie steels Sarah-Charlotte's milk and drinks it even though she is allergic to milk. That is when Janie notices the picture on the milk carton and wishes she had never drank that milk. The second important event is when Janie and Reeve skip school to drive to New Jersey to see if the people who are her parents (according to the milk carton) are really her parents. Janie discovers they look just like her. My favorite line from this book is "Janie held Sarah-Charlotte's empty milk carton and stared at the photograph of the little girl. I was kidnapped." This line is my favorite because it starts the mystery and story line of the book. My favorite character is Reeve. I like Reeve because he is very funny and friendly. He is always making jokes or helping someone out, like Janie. The book, The Face on the Milk Carton was one of my favorite books, it will keep you reading until you finish the book, and when you do, you'll have to go back for the two sequels, What Ever Happened to Janie, and The Voice on the Radio. The reason I liked this book so much is because it keeps you wondering the whole time, what's going to happen to Janie? Did her parents really kidnap her? A mystery reader would definitely like this book because the whole book is an unpredictable mystery. Even if you don't like mysteries this book is still a good book for you. It's exciting, interesting, and much more. This book is an important book to read because it teaches you friendship, and how to deal with difficult situations. To find out what really happened to Janie, read The Face on the Mi

Wow!

The Face on the Milk Carton is one of the best books I've read, and I read a lot! The plot starts right away when 15 year old Janie picks up a milk carton and glances at a "missing" ad of a little girl. No big deal... until she recognizes the picture. It is herself, years before. Janie and her boyfriend, Reeve, try to get to the bottom of the complicated story. She can't imagine her kind parents being kidnappers... but who else could it be? What happened? The plot of this book was very creative and exciting, and I couldn't put it down! I recommended it to all of my friends, because it has it all - romance, mystery, drama... And they all loved it! I would recommend this book for everyone ages 12 and up! Also, if you liked this, be sure to read the sequels, Whatever Happened to Janie?, The Voice on the Radio, and What Janie Found.

Awesome!

This is one of my favorite books. It is a page turner. I couldnt put it down once I started reading it. It is about a girl who sees her face on a milk carton that says she was kidnapped. At once she reconizes that face as hers but she cant believe that her kind and loving parents could have kidnapped her. She looks in newspapers and researches to find out the truth. This is a very good book