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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
I found this book at a book fair at my school. I loved this book so much and i always wanted to read the rest of the series but i always forgot, but it's never to late to read a book no matter how old you are. at least that's my opinion.
Kindaaa holds up tbh. Is it *good*? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ did I read it all in about 2 hours and want to go straight to the sequel? Yes.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a review of the whole series, which I recently reread as an adult when considering whether to give it to my friends' kid.
As a kid, I remember being completely enthralled by the story, but I never read the sequels back then, so when these books suddenly flashed across my memory, I decided I had to know what had happened to the character I'd loved many years before. I still found the plot intriguing, but the writing a lot less skilled.
To my great surprise, the second book had me weeping the entire way through. The premise was just so sad.
The third and fourth books were just too unrealistic for me--especially the third. We're supposed to believe the boyfriend is telling the whole story of the first and second books over the radio over long stretches of time, yet every time we hear a new radio show, it's just the next part of the story. What is he supposed to have been talking about in between? It doesn't make sense. Plus, it's so repetitive, just telling the same story all over again. I feel like I would have been bothered by this even as a kid.
In all, though, I think it's a great suspenseful series for kids that they won't be able to put down.
As a kid, I remember being completely enthralled by the story, but I never read the sequels back then, so when these books suddenly flashed across my memory, I decided I had to know what had happened to the character I'd loved many years before. I still found the plot intriguing, but the writing a lot less skilled.
To my great surprise, the second book had me weeping the entire way through. The premise was just so sad.
The third and fourth books were just too unrealistic for me--especially the third. We're supposed to believe the boyfriend is telling the whole story of the first and second books over the radio over long stretches of time, yet every time we hear a new radio show, it's just the next part of the story. What is he supposed to have been talking about in between? It doesn't make sense. Plus, it's so repetitive, just telling the same story all over again. I feel like I would have been bothered by this even as a kid.
In all, though, I think it's a great suspenseful series for kids that they won't be able to put down.
I was in the sixth grade. We were having one of those Scholastic book orders that made reading so exciting. This book caught my attention. What could be more captivating than a book about a kid finding out they're kidnapped?!! I begged my mom to order it and she did. Shortly thereafter, the book was in my hands, and suddenly I was ashamed. I was a boy on the verge of junior high school. I watched sports, liked cars and video games. I was too cool for a book with a pig-tailed girl on the cover.
Some time later that year, this kid named Joey mentioned the book. He was cool. He asked if I'd read it. Was this a trap? “I have a copy—but only because my mom wanted to read it,” I said. He said he'd read the book and it was awesome, that I should definitely read it. Again, part of me wanted to read The Face on the Milk Carton, but I really didn't have time for it. I was going to get a Z shaved on the side of my head, work for Ferrari, and sing backup for Bobby Brown: I was way too cool for books.
I wish I'd listened to Joey. I probably would've liked this book more as a twelve year old than as a thirty-five year old. That being said, I was surprised by how much I did enjoy the novel as an adult. No, it's not some great work of literature. But what it is is captivating. I was enthralled by what Janie would do. I was pulled in, reading chapter after chapter in a single sitting. Was I captivated enough to read the rest of the books in the series? No. Nevertheless, The Face on the Milk Carton was a wonderful ride of adolescent “what ifs.”
One thing that surprised me about this novel was the amount of sex. Had I read it back in grade school as was the original plan, I probably would've been ashamed and confused by what I'd read. In my opinion, The Face on the Milk Carton is more a young adult novel than a child's story. Damn Scholastic for trying to corrupt my youth!
And what's up with Janie's lactose intolerance? It's constantly being mentioned. Girl cannot consume dairy without dire consequence. Apt condition to have given the title? Perhaps. But what kind of pizza is this girl eating? Does heated cheese somehow not qualify as dairy? How does the writer and the editors miss this contradiction?
Despite its flaws in logic and storytelling, The Face on the Milk Carton was a great adventure. I didn't learn anything, I wasn't moved by the condition of these characters, but I was entertained. And if that is the point of this book, then the author succeeded. Thanks, Joey. It took over twenty years, but you finally convinced me.
Some time later that year, this kid named Joey mentioned the book. He was cool. He asked if I'd read it. Was this a trap? “I have a copy—but only because my mom wanted to read it,” I said. He said he'd read the book and it was awesome, that I should definitely read it. Again, part of me wanted to read The Face on the Milk Carton, but I really didn't have time for it. I was going to get a Z shaved on the side of my head, work for Ferrari, and sing backup for Bobby Brown: I was way too cool for books.
I wish I'd listened to Joey. I probably would've liked this book more as a twelve year old than as a thirty-five year old. That being said, I was surprised by how much I did enjoy the novel as an adult. No, it's not some great work of literature. But what it is is captivating. I was enthralled by what Janie would do. I was pulled in, reading chapter after chapter in a single sitting. Was I captivated enough to read the rest of the books in the series? No. Nevertheless, The Face on the Milk Carton was a wonderful ride of adolescent “what ifs.”
One thing that surprised me about this novel was the amount of sex. Had I read it back in grade school as was the original plan, I probably would've been ashamed and confused by what I'd read. In my opinion, The Face on the Milk Carton is more a young adult novel than a child's story. Damn Scholastic for trying to corrupt my youth!
And what's up with Janie's lactose intolerance? It's constantly being mentioned. Girl cannot consume dairy without dire consequence. Apt condition to have given the title? Perhaps. But what kind of pizza is this girl eating? Does heated cheese somehow not qualify as dairy? How does the writer and the editors miss this contradiction?
Despite its flaws in logic and storytelling, The Face on the Milk Carton was a great adventure. I didn't learn anything, I wasn't moved by the condition of these characters, but I was entertained. And if that is the point of this book, then the author succeeded. Thanks, Joey. It took over twenty years, but you finally convinced me.
This was a reread for me,2.5 stars. I originally read this in my early teens I believe and I remember really enjoying it back then. I think the book has a really interesting premise, but it wasn't executed as well as it could've been. Plus, the main character Janie kind of annoys me now- this could be that I am in my mid 20s and not my teens though.
This was the second time I read The Face on the Milk Carton, the first having been when I was around the age of 9. I recall reading and really enjoying the book which is why I felt compelled to see how I would feel about it now. I did not enjoy the book nearly as much the second time as I recall having the first time, but for sake of the child in me I gave it an extra star.
The writing is not poor, but it certainly is not great either. I felt the character of Janie was never properly introduced, the core of the plot is introduced too quickly. Therefore we are left without a true comparison between life-changing realization (kidnapping) Janie and the Janie that was, supposedly, care-free. She vacillates between normal 15 year old and child-like too often, regardless of the situation, in my opinion as well.
The author also has that terrible affliction of telling and not showing us. The amount of telling was extremely distracting and left you disinterested in the setting and characters. Cooney also uses many coincidences, especially in the early portions of the book, to drive Janie's downfall into being one that does nothing but obsess over a single thing. Such as one of the characters just "happens" to mention a story about how he worried that he may have been kidnapped for a moment when he saw the incorrect date on his birth certificate. Some of the writing in the book also felt awkward and/or odd, leaving me to rephrase sentences as I was reading (not really a great sign).
Overall, the premise of the book is great but the author did not tackle it well. Since I loved it as a child I'm going to be kind and give it three stars, otherwise it would be two. Perhaps it is not a good idea to re-read books you loved as a child as an adult?
The writing is not poor, but it certainly is not great either. I felt the character of Janie was never properly introduced, the core of the plot is introduced too quickly. Therefore we are left without a true comparison between life-changing realization (kidnapping) Janie and the Janie that was, supposedly, care-free. She vacillates between normal 15 year old and child-like too often, regardless of the situation, in my opinion as well.
The author also has that terrible affliction of telling and not showing us. The amount of telling was extremely distracting and left you disinterested in the setting and characters. Cooney also uses many coincidences, especially in the early portions of the book, to drive Janie's downfall into being one that does nothing but obsess over a single thing. Such as one of the characters just "happens" to mention a story about how he worried that he may have been kidnapped for a moment when he saw the incorrect date on his birth certificate. Some of the writing in the book also felt awkward and/or odd, leaving me to rephrase sentences as I was reading (not really a great sign).
Overall, the premise of the book is great but the author did not tackle it well. Since I loved it as a child I'm going to be kind and give it three stars, otherwise it would be two. Perhaps it is not a good idea to re-read books you loved as a child as an adult?
I have to admit I skimmed it as the writing style just didn't grab me. I'm sure I would not have reacted at all as the main character did to her revelation, either so I didn't relate to her much. And talk about a cliffhanger! Not my favorite kind of ending!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved this story! When i was 13 14 15. I'm not sure when I read it. But I remember that it was very entertaining and engaging.
It will not change your life.
But I always recommend it to reluctant readers, and I usually get a good response.
It will not change your life.
But I always recommend it to reluctant readers, and I usually get a good response.
This book is great if you're 13 years old, but I'm 27 so I found it childish and petty. I enjoyed the suspense, and the characters, but not that it was left as a cliff hanger!