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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I started a book club for students and faculty while we're under the remote learning regime at work. I'm not much of a genre person, so when everyone else wanted to read mystery, and I had to consider things that would work for teens while hopefully appealing to adults in addition to being quick, easy reads (because that's all most people can handle right now), my very first thought was this, from my own teenage years. I gave the club a couple of other options. Perhaps my telling them that this book's premise is "ludicrous" was a selling point.
I've been having a lot of trouble focusing on reading. I read this in one afternoon! I expected it to have aged badly, but what makes this assuredly ludicrous story work is what makes it so easy to read. The writing isn't overwrought (unlike too much of today's YA); instead, there's a rather elegant sparseness. Once, Cooney describes the weather as "sweater weather," and that's all, because that's all you need to know what she means. She extends this to her cast of characters, all of whom become real people with only a few words, and she remembers that her teenagers are indeed teenagers without trying too hard to make them hip. I forgot about that cliffhanger ending, which is just as well, because this remains a ridiculous and fantastic comfort read, and I intend to jump to the sequel pretty much immediately.
I've been having a lot of trouble focusing on reading. I read this in one afternoon! I expected it to have aged badly, but what makes this assuredly ludicrous story work is what makes it so easy to read. The writing isn't overwrought (unlike too much of today's YA); instead, there's a rather elegant sparseness. Once, Cooney describes the weather as "sweater weather," and that's all, because that's all you need to know what she means. She extends this to her cast of characters, all of whom become real people with only a few words, and she remembers that her teenagers are indeed teenagers without trying too hard to make them hip. I forgot about that cliffhanger ending, which is just as well, because this remains a ridiculous and fantastic comfort read, and I intend to jump to the sequel pretty much immediately.
In a lot of respects, this is pretty dated--like first of all does any school have milk in cartons anymore? and if they do, they definitely don't have missing children? The fat-shaming and food obsession actually isn't dated exactly--that shit's still all over contemporary YA--but it's still gross.
STILL at its heart there is just something so compelling about the core premise of this!
http://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers/episode-78-the-face-on-the-milk-carton/
STILL at its heart there is just something so compelling about the core premise of this!
http://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers/episode-78-the-face-on-the-milk-carton/
I AM VERY VERY VERY ANNOYED BY THIS CLIFFHANGER ENDING NGL!!!
The book started off quite promising and I enjoyed reading this through Janie's POV herself rather than in third person, when she found out about her face on the milk carton and connected the dots, it sure gave me chills thinking how could her parents act so normal.
Everything that unraveled throughout the book proved itself to be a page turner definitely but I couldn't enjoy parts of it due to my personal prejudice and the cult's involvement, specific focus on it's name being Hare Krishna ...I would lie if I said that it didn't bother me. I don't know if there's any other significance of the name rather than what I am connecting it to so I can't say much about it but it did put me off.
I was hoping to have a definite conclusion to Janie's fate in this book itself but my fault, I didn't know this had so many sequels! Maybe I'd jump into the next one if I am in the mood.
The book started off quite promising and I enjoyed reading this through Janie's POV herself rather than in third person, when she found out about her face on the milk carton and connected the dots, it sure gave me chills thinking how could her parents act so normal.
Everything that unraveled throughout the book proved itself to be a page turner definitely but I couldn't enjoy parts of it due to my personal prejudice and the cult's involvement, specific focus on it's name being Hare Krishna ...I would lie if I said that it didn't bother me. I don't know if there's any other significance of the name rather than what I am connecting it to so I can't say much about it but it did put me off.
I was hoping to have a definite conclusion to Janie's fate in this book itself but my fault, I didn't know this had so many sequels! Maybe I'd jump into the next one if I am in the mood.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i want to make a concession that this book is old, and it came out when the ya genre was different. so i dont want to fault it too much for its flaws in how janie acts and talks way younger than her actual age, and for the lack of depth and diversity. even with those aspects aside, though, this just isn't good. it is way too slow to be a thriller and there isnt enough plot threads to be a compelling mystery. it drags for so long, we're stuck watching janie have the same thoughts and worries over and over and over again with no real plot movement or character growth. while this could have been really emotionally compelling (the parents i love and who treat me well kidnapped me? how to reconcile that?) the depth of exploration just isnt there. the focus was way more on her relationship with reeve, which was equally flat and boring. anyway even if you remember liking this as a kid like me i would not recommend revisiting it
Absolutely an amzing read!!! Such a great storyline. Definitely can't wait until I read the 2nd one!
emotional
mysterious
It's not often that I give books under 200 pages a "dragged on and on and on" tag, for reasons I think should be obvious.
But this one warranted it.
Intriguing plot, but dear, sweet Jesus, it really did drag it out. There was a tad too much focus and angst about Janie's "normal" life when the meat of the plot is supposed to be around her being a kidnapped child.
Also, Janie bugged me a bit. She's smart enough to consider that her parents are lying, and that they.
But this one warranted it.
Intriguing plot, but dear, sweet Jesus, it really did drag it out. There was a tad too much focus and angst about Janie's "normal" life when the meat of the plot is supposed to be around her being a kidnapped child.
Also, Janie bugged me a bit. She's smart enough to consider that her parents are lying, and that they
Spoiler
kidnapped her to replace Hannah, but apparently she doesn't consider until someone TELLS her that maybe Hannah was the one that kidnapped her??
Ever since I first read this book back in fifth grade I've been captivated by the storyline. I find it suspenseful, even after reading it 27 times already. :)
I love the characters. Caroline B. Cooney portrays Janie's personality and reactions wonderfully.
4.75 out of 5 stars
I love the characters. Caroline B. Cooney portrays Janie's personality and reactions wonderfully.
4.75 out of 5 stars
I read this book when I was in 7th grade I think. I fell in love with it. It was the most amazing book I've ever read. I fell in love with reading because of this book. It's just amazing that's all I have to say.