One brief glance at a face on a milk carton turns 15-year-old Janie's life upside-down. For there, looking out from the picture of a missing child, is the face of Janie as she was 12 years ago. Was she kidnapped by her own parents? But who are her real parents and who is she? Follow Janie as she struggles to learn the truth of her identity and regain control of her life without destroying the lives of those she loves.

Reviewed by Karla S., South County Regional

Read the Author Interview with Caroline B. Cooney

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Reader's comments about this book

What do you do when you find out your parents aren't really your parents? What if you were that child on the milk carton? How could you believe that somewhere you had another family? And that someone in your family now, took you from that place, that other family? What do you believe, and who do you go to? You become Janie Johnson, compelled to go on, to explore every possibility.
-Tammy, Charlotte, NC

The Face on the Milk Carton is a wonderful book. It's extremely suspenseful and keeps the pages turning. It also has three companion books to keep the excitement going.
-Megan, Train Your Brain Summer Reading

This book addresses some serious ethical issues without beating you over the head with them. Janie has to decide whom to trust when suspicions that she cannot resolve or wish away prey upon her mind. She has to decide to whom she owes loyalty - the two people who have raised her in a loving home, or a pair of strangers who may be her legal and biological parents. Readers will enjoy imagining their own reactions and comparing them to Janie's.
-Tom, Charlotte, NC

I liked this book a lot! It was very suspenseful. It also had a good theme to it.
-Katie, Caricou, Maine

This book was very suspenseful and very good.I can't wait to read its other companion books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Morgan, Warrenton, Virginia

This book was wonderful! I loved it. It makes you keep wanting to read every page without stopping. The companions to this book... they are great! The Voice On The Radio is the last companion. That's the best one! I think there should be another one because that one leaves you on the edge! They are all the greatest books I have ever read!!!
-Tanna, Florien, LA

I loved this book and its sequels! The TV movie is good too, but is hard to catch. Every time I read this, I wonder how I'd feel in this situation. Imagine that your whole life is a lie. That is essentially what Janie finds out in this book and at the same time, a great thing happens; she falls in love. The balance between sadness and joy, truth and lies, and deep soul-searching and shallow daydreams keep you enthralled.
-Kat, Chicago, IL

I loved reading this book! It was one of those books that you couldn't put down. I also saw the TV movie and it was similiar. I like books like this.
-Breanna, Chula Vista, CA

This book is really good!!!!
-Meckennah, NY

I loved this book! It was so interesting I couldn't put it down until I was done reading it! Did you know it was banned?
-Brittany, Chicago, Illinois

I thought this book was very interesting and suspenseful. It keep me going and wanting to read more.
-shaquana, charlotte,nc

I absolutly love this book!!!
-Morgan, North Carolina

The Face on the Milk Carton is a great book. Cooney does a wonderful job bringing the characters and how they feel to life. I can't see why this book, or any book should be banned. You have a choice to pick it up or not. Don't you?
-Hannah, Mooresville, NC

I loved this book so much! I didn't see the movie, but I want to. It left me on the edge of my bed the whole time!
-Taylor, North Kingstown, RI

This is a great book. It's a really good cliff hanger and keeps you reading.
-Christina, Dearborn, MI

This book was really good. I couldn't stop reading, until the end.
-Gisela, NY, New York

This book is amazing. It was well written and is an easy read. You could relate to the characters and it caused me to question myself on what I would do in Janie's situation. It had me not wanting to put it down, it was such a good suspence novel.
-C.J. Bartell, Sudbury, ON

I found this to be an amazing page turner and I would often find myself awake in my bed hours after it grew dark, and even then I would still have to force myself to put it down. I would HIGHLY recommend it to someone interested in a great mystery.
-Claire, Bath, Michigan

I really liked this book and the second one, I just can't figure out who banned it and why.
-Mikayla, Maine

It was Awesome!!
-Morgan, Missouri

This book is the bomb. Read it! I promise you won't put it down until you finish the whole story. I can't believe this book was banned. It's a great story.
-Baraa, Chicago, Illinois

This book is amazing! We read it in class and I absolutely loved it!! I haven't read the sequels yet but I probably will!! Amazing book!!
-Katlyn, Yuma, AZ

This book is the best! When I read it, I couldn't put it down.
-Kellia Samson, New York, New York

This book was AMAZING! I couldn`t put it down! I would recommend it to anyone over the age of 11.
-Lisnaldy, Perth Amboy, NJ

I think this book is amazing.
-Megan, Las Vegas, Nevada

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