Then again, I was light years ahead of my peers in maturity. I read this book at ten, and while I think that may be a bit young, grade 7 certainly isn't in my estimation. Reeve's desire to get in Janie's pants is perfectly realistic, let's be honest. It's a beautifully composed story of heartrending tragedy. No sex takes place, there's no inappropriate language, and no written violence. I discovered it recently when deciding I needed these books in my collection and went hunting on Amazon.Īs to the censorship issue, I can see where parents come from, but it's fairly ridiculous. There's been a fifth 9and final) book! 'Janie Face to Face' is the title. I'm pretty excited to go get these from the library and see what happened to Janie. After the first book there is Whatever Happened to Janie, The Voice on the Radio and What Janie Found. In poking around for more information about this book, I was pretty stoked to see that it's actually a series. It's only when they start trying to dictate what other children should be allowed to read that it crosses the line. I do agree with Caroline though, that parents have the right to decide what is appropriate for their kids. I was surprised that the seemingly innocent reference to sex (sex, by the way, which didn't happen) was enough to have it challenged. It's another one that I loved as a kid, I can even remember seeing the after school special that was based on it.

What did I think?: I think I was shocked that this book was challenged. The fact that I might disagree is irrelevant. I am respectful of parents who keep up with what their children read and have the guts to announce publicly that they don’t like the title assigned and wish it removed. Of course at any time, any reader may state disapproval of a book. Thoughts from Caroline: 'Here’s my view on challenges: they are simply free speech. This book has been challenged any times and the reasons listed range from sexual content, challenge to authority and inappropriate for age group. Why it was banned: The Face on the Milk Carton is listed at #80 on the most frequently challenged books for 1990-1999 and #29 on the same list for 2000-2009. Johnson really Janie's parents? And if not, who is Janie Johnson, and what really happened? (from )

Janie can't believe that her loving parents kidnapped her, but as she begins to piece things together, nothing makes sense. She recognized that little girl-it was she. But as Janie Johnson glanced at the face of the ordinary little girl with her hair in tight pigtails, wearing a dress with a narrow white collar-a three-year-old who had been kidnapped twelve years before from a shopping mall in New Jersey-she felt overcome with shock. Summary: No one ever really paid close attention to the faces of the missing children on the milk cartons.

The face on the milk carton book series