74 pages 2 hours read

Caroline B. Cooney

The Face on the Milk Carton

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1990

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

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.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

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.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Face on the Milk Carton?

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.

RecommendedReading Age

12-18years

Lexile Level

660L

Book Details

Genre

Mystery / Crime Fiction

Children's Literature

Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Themes

Relationships: Family