Whatever Happened to Janie? (Janie Johnson Series #2)

by Caroline B. Cooney

Overview

In the vein of psychological thrillers like We Were Liars, Girl on the Train, and Beware That Girl, bestselling author Caroline Cooney’s JANIE series delivers on every level. Mystery and suspense blend seamlessly with issues of family, friendship and love to offer an emotionally evocative thrill ride of a read.


As Janie Johnson glanced at the face of the ordinary little girl on the milk carton, she was overcome with shock. She recognized that little girl—it was she. How can it possibly be true? But it is.

With the mystery of her kidnapping now unraveled, Janie's story continues, and the nightmare is not over. No one can bring back or relive the 12 years gone by. The Spring family wants justice, but who is really to blame? The Johnsons know that they must abide by the court decisions made, but it's difficult to figure out what's best for everyone.

Janie Johnson or Jenny Spring? Who is she? Certainly there's enough love for everyone, but how can the two separate families live happily ever after?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780385742399
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	05/22/2012
Series:	Janie Johnson Series , #2
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	83,982
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

CAROLINE B. COONEY is the bestselling author of more than 30 young adult books, including the million-copy plus bestseller, The Face on the Milk Carton.

Editorial Reviews

The sequel to The Face on the Milk Carton explores the trauma of a kidnapped adopted child returned to her birth parents. ``The power and nature of love is wrenchingly illustrated,'' wrote PW in a starred review. Ages 12-up. (Oct.)q

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 7-10-- Cooney's The Face on the Milk Carton (Bantam, 1990) involved a 15-year-old girl who discovers she had been kidnapped when she was 3. Those left hanging by the ambiguous ending to that story will want to read this sequel in which Janie goes to live with her biological parents and four siblings. Although all of the family members are eager to include her, she's determined to remain emotionally aloof. Finally, Janie asserts her desire to return to her adopted family, and her biological parents love her enough to let her go. The strength of this book is that all of the parties are easy to empathize with. They are well-rounded characters with quirks and annoying qualities, yet all have compassion for ``the other guy,'' even while feeling their own pain. The suspense centers around the question of which family needs Janie more and which she will choose. There is no clear answer to her dilemma since both love her and have suffered through no fault of their own. While Janie ultimately puts her own feelings first by choosing the family that is ``real'' to her, the stage is set for future changes of heart and perhaps another sequel. Meanwhile, this book won't gather dust on the shelf. --Jacqueline Rose, Southeast Regional Library, NC

School Library Journal

In this sequel to the popular THE FACE ON THE MILK CARTON, Janie/Jenny goes to live with her real family from whom she was abducted when she was 3-years-old. She is torn between her love for the parents who raised her and the family she was born into. In this slightly voiced reading, Bresnahan delivers a perfectly balanced performance. She is authentic as an angry, sometimes rebellious teenager. Her use of pauses and phrasing is well timed, especially at dramatic points in the story. Additionally, her clear and meticulous diction is a pleasure to listen to. S.S.R. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

OCT/NOV 99 - AudioFile