In The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney, fifteen-year-old Janie Johnson’s life is upended when she discovers a photo of herself as a child on a milk carton, claiming she was kidnapped at age three. As she investigates her past, Janie uncovers startling truths about her family and grapples with her identity amidst resurfacing memories and emotional turmoil. References to cults and sexual activity are present in the book.

Caroline B. Cooney's The Face on the Milk Carton captures readers with its suspenseful plot and relatable protagonist. Praised for its engaging narrative and emotional depth. Criticized by some for predictable elements and slower pacing. Overall, it remains a compelling read for young adults, blending mystery and self-discovery.

Readers who relish suspenseful young adult novels with reliable emotional depth will adore Caroline B. Cooney’s The Face on the Milk Carton. It captures the same gripping intrigue and teenage angst found in Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why and John Green’s Looking for Alaska.

Mysterious / Suspenseful / Emotional / Challenging / Unnerving

- Caroline B. Cooney's book, The Face on the Milk Carton, was adapted into a popular television movie in 1995, bringing the suspenseful story to a wider audience through a different medium.
- The novel sparked a successful series, known as the "Janie Johnson series," with several sequels that further explore the protagonist's journey and the central themes introduced in the first book.
- The Face on the Milk Carton raised awareness about missing children and child abductions, dovetailing with real-world initiatives during the late 1980s and early 1990s to feature missing children on milk cartons to aid in their recovery.

**Janie Johnson**  
A 15-year-old girl who is initially flighty and passive, but becomes more assertive after discovering a shocking photo of herself that sets off a chain of events affecting her family and her sense of identity.

**Reeve Shields**  
Janie’s neighbor and love interest who struggles with underachievement but supports Janie as she navigates the complex emotions surrounding her past, helping her grow in the process.

**Miranda Johnson**  
Janie’s mother who is energetic and disciplined, hiding her emotional pain behind organized volunteer work, yet her empathy and decisive actions significantly impact the story's development.

**Frank Johnson**  
Janie’s father, a good-natured accountant and soccer coach, who balances affection and protectiveness toward Janie, occasionally revealing emotional vulnerability beneath his playful exterior.

**Hannah Javensen**  
The absent daughter of Frank and Miranda, remembered differently by the characters, whose past actions indirectly cause the central conflict in the story, though she never appears in the present timeline.

**Sarah-Charlotte Sherwood**  
Janie’s best friend, who is stylish and confident, presenting a contrast to Janie with her neat appearance and decisive personality, which affects Janie’s ability to confide in her.

Caroline B. Cooney

Novel

Janie Johnson

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Teaching Guide

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content

Overview

Get ready to explore The Face on the Milk Carton and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The Face on the Milk Carton Summary and Study Guide

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

The Face on the Milk Carton Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

The Face on the Milk Carton Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-9

The Face on the Milk Carton Chapters 7-9

Chapters 10-12

The Face on the Milk Carton Chapters 10-12

Chapters 13-15

The Face on the Milk Carton Chapters 13-15

Chapters 16-18

The Face on the Milk Carton Chapters 16-18

character

Character Analysis

The Face on the Milk Carton Character Analysis

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Themes

The Face on the Milk Carton Themes

Symbols & Motifs

The Face on the Milk Carton Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

The Face on the Milk Carton Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

The Face on the Milk Carton Essay Topics

The Face on the Milk Carton Teaching Unit

Introduction

The Face on the Milk Carton Teacher Introduction

Before Reading

Reading Context

The Face on the Milk Carton Reading Context

During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

The Face on the Milk Carton Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Answer Key

The Face on the Milk Carton Reading Questions Answer Key

After Reading

Discussion/Analysis Prompt

The Face on the Milk Carton Discussion/Analysis Prompt

Activities

The Face on the Milk Carton Activities

Essay Questions

The Face on the Milk Carton Essay Questions

Exam Questions

The Face on the Milk Carton Cumulative Exam Questions

Exam Answer Key

The Face on the Milk Carton Exam Answer Key

The Face on the Milk Carton

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read The Face on the Milk Carton?

Reading Age

Book Details