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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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CONCEPT ANALYSIS
UNIT PLAN
BEFORE READING STRATEGIES
chalk talk
spectrum of difference
DURING READING STRATEGIES
circle of life
thought tracking
hot seating
AFTER READING STRATEGIES
script writing and making predictions
body biography
storyboards
DISCUSSION STRATEGY
socratic seminar
VOCABULARY STRATEGY
word war
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Taylor, King, Wright BYU 2013
CONCEPT ANALYSIS
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Taylor, King, Wright BYU 2013
The Face on the Milk Carton, Laurel-Leaf: 2009 (originally published 1990)
CONCEPT ANALYSIS
1. Title Material
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney.
Originally published by Laurel-Leaf -- a division of Random House, Inc. in 1990.
Published by Laurel-Leaf in July 2009
196 Pages
ISBN: 038532328X
2. Brief Plot Summary & Organizational Patterns
Janie Johnson, just a regular fifteen-year-old sophomore, has always longed for a more exciting name.
One day at lunch, Janie happens to notice her own face in the Missing Child photo on her friend’s milk
carton. Janie thinks she just might be Jennie Springs, who was kidnapped from a mall in New Jersey at
the age of three. Janie attempts to put the whole thing out of her mind, trying to focus on her next-door
neighbor and crush, Reeve. How can she be kidnapped? Her parents would never do such a thing. Not
thinking about it isn’t as effective as Janie had hoped, because she keeps having flashbacks of people
and events that don’t belong in her head.
One day, while looking for answers, Janie comes across a box where she finds unmistakable proof that
she is the same girl from the milk carton: the dress she was wearing for the photo. She also comes across
school portraits for a child she does not recognize, a girl named Hannah. Janie confronts her parents
with the newfound knowledge and is told that Hannah is her real mother, and that the mom and dad she
has always known are in fact her grandparents. Comforted by the information that her parents are not
kidnappers, Janie tries to forget everything about Jennie Spring.
She is again unable to get over the idea that she might be the kidnapped child from New Jersey. She
does some research into the kidnapping, and she and Reeve take a trip to New Jersey where she sees the
Spring family with her own eyes. She cannot ignore the truth that she is Jennie Spring, but she still
wants to try. Janie attempts to put her other family behind her, content with the parents who love her she
decides that she would rather keep the family she has. This decision doesn’t last, Janie can’t hide what
she knows. She writes her New Jersey family a letter and mails it accidentally. When she confronts her
parents with what she has found out, they decide that the matter should be handled immediately. The
novel ends with Janie calling her real mother for the first time in twelve years.
The novel is not organized or divided in any special way, other than having chapters. There is a note
from the author at the beginning that might be interesting for students to read, as it explains how she
thought of the story. The book is 18 chapters long spread over 180 pages. In general the chapters range
from 10 pages to 15 pages. Below is a suggested reading breakdown that could be used in the course of
teaching this novel:
● Chapter 1-2
● Chapter 3-4
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Taylor, King, Wright BYU 2013
The Face on the Milk Carton, Laurel-Leaf: 2009 (originally published 1990)
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Chapter 5-7
Chapter 8-10
Chapter 11-13
Chapter 14-16
Chapter 17-18
3. The Big Question or Enduring Issue
The novel has several essential questions or enduring issues that are compelling to teens. The essential
question we find most important comes from the question of identity. What determines who we are? Is it
where we’re from, our parents, our experiences, or our friends? Or a combination of all of these? Janie
struggles throughout the novel and throughout the series to understand who she is and whether her
parents or her experiences define who she is. As students read the novel and also struggle with
understanding who they are as people, it’s important to discuss the concept of identity and what
determines who they are.
4. Background Knowledge
● Students need to understand the idea of “Missing Child” posters being printed on milk cartons, as
that it is no long popular practice.
● Student need to do be aware of and understand unique and non-traditional family situations
(step-parents, adoption, etc.)
5. Issues related to this Study of Literature
Theme(s):
As we mentioned, the main theme to be explored in this book is identity. How do we struggle
with it and how do we find it? What makes up our identity or determines who we are. However there are
several sub themes to be explored:
● Another theme in the book is honesty or truth. Is it always important or appropriate to tell the
truth? Is it ok to conceal the truth if it seems like the right thing to do? Is it the right thing to do if
it protects someone? Janie’s parents lie to her about what they think is the truth to protect her;
they don’t want to tell her something that will upset her unless she’s ready, and unless she needs
to know. Janie also struggles with asking her parents the truth about her identity, especially when
she finds out that she is not Hannah’s child and was actually abducted. Does she tell her parents?
Does she try to contact her real parents? Should the Johnson/Javensen family face the truth?
● Another important theme is measuring up to expectations. Janie struggles to try to measure up to
what she thinks her identity is. She wants to be the daughter her parents see her as despite the
secret about herself that she knows. She doesn’t want to disappoint or hurt them, and thus
doesn’t know what the “right” thing is to do. She struggles with the expectations she knows her
“real” parents must have. She knows they must be worrying about their daughter-wherever she
is- and hoping she will come back to them. Reeve also struggles within his family to be what
everyone expects. Reeve isn’t a star student, but all his siblings have been. He feels like a failure
in some ways, and like he’s the black sheep of the family. Many students will be able to relate to
Reeve in this way- that they don’t measure up to their parent’s expectations. Many teenagers
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Taylor, King, Wright BYU 2013
The Face on the Milk Carton, Laurel-Leaf: 2009 (originally published 1990)
worry about being “good enough” for friends and family, and Reeve, although popular, is no
different.
Setting:
Janie’s school is a major location where much of the story takes places. This location is familiar to
students, however Janie’s school is a high school as she is in 10th grade which might have some slight
differences from the students experience
The Johnson’s home in Hartford is another huge setting in the novel where Janie struggles with finding
out who she is. She questions her memories, her upbringing, her parents, their real identity, her real
identity, and what to do about her real family.
A brief location in the novel is at the Spring’s house in New Jersey. While Janie and Reeve are only
there for a minute or two, their presence there is pivotal to the story. It is at this point when she and
Reeve sit outside of the Spring house in his Jeep that she sees her red headed siblings cross the street.
They have fiery, flaming hair just like her. She sees her twin brothers, which match her fleeting
memories of twin babies at the shopping mall where she was taken. At this point she knows that she
really was abducted, and that the Springs really are her real family.
Point of View/Narrative Voice:
The story is told by an omniscient third person narrator, and the point of view does not change
throughout the story. As a result, students need to understand what an omniscient third-person narrator is
and what their purpose is in telling the story. See the example below:
“I can’t make small talk,” she said. “Breakfast was awful. It was like filling out a form.”
Reeve laughed. “I loved it. All the girls flirted with me.”
Why did he say that? she thought, utterly miserable. I don’t want to be the one who’s jealous!
(pg. 73)
Characterization:
MAJOR CHARACTERS:
Janie Johnson
Janie is a 15 year-old sophomore who becomes paralyzed emotionally and mentally after finding a
kidnapping notice of her 3 year-old self on a milk carton at school.
“She had gradually changed her name. “Jane” was too dull. Last year she’d added a “y,”
becoming Jayne, which had more personality and was sexier. To her last name—Johnson—she’d
added a “t,” and later an “e” at the end, so now she was Jayne Johnstone.” (pg. 2)
Reeve Shields
Reeve is two years older than Janie and can drive. He lives in the shadow of his successful and
intelligent older siblings. He and Janie get romantically involved.
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The Face on the Milk Carton, Laurel-Leaf: 2009 (originally published 1990)
“A big banner flapping in the wind. YOU’RE DUMB, says the flag. My sisters, my brother, my
parents: they don’t say it out loud, but they kind of line up my college application forms next to
my grades and my SATs and the old flag waves, YOU’RE DUMB.” (pg. 17)
“He was one of those boys who don’t simply sit: they collapse, snapping the legs off chairs and
breaking the backs of couches.” (pg. 27)
Mrs. Johnson
Janie’s very loving and calorie-watching mother. She and Janie are constantly going through hobbies,
looking for something they can do together.
“Her mother never came in the side door. She liked to look around the front hall, with its
graceful mirrors slender, elegant furniture, and into the beautiful living room she had designed.”
(pg. 29)
Mr. Johnson
Janie’s energetic and very loving father. He is very protective of his daughter and often times thinks of
Janie as his “baby girl.”
“Her father charged in the side door, full of energy from soccer. “What a team!” he said. He
launched his first bear hug at his wife . . .” (pg. 30)
MINOR CHARACTERS:
Peter, Adair, Sarah Charlotte, Jason, and Katrina
These people are minor characters throughout the story but are Janie’s friends at school that she will
occasionally talk to and interact with throughout the book.
“She had been eating since the school year began with Pete, Adair, Sarah-Charlotte, Jason, and
Katrina. She loved all their names.” (pg. 4)
Other Literary Terms taught in 6th-12th grades:
The most important aspect of this novel is the theme of identity. However additional literary terms can
be taught through this text. Because the book follows the traditional narrative and dramatic structure, the
text could be used as a means to teach the various aspects of the dramatic structure.
Climax
In literature, a climax is the point of greatest or culminating intensity, especially at the conclusion of a
crisis. This term is so applicable to this particular novel because arguments could be made about where
the climax is. Is it when she sees her parents? Is it when she finds out about her kidnapper? Is it the very
last line of the novel, when she speaks to her mother for the first time in twelve years? This would be an
interesting discussion for students to weigh in on.
Theme
The theme of a novel is an implicit or recurrent idea; a motif. While there are multiple themes in this
novel, the main one is identity. This is a relevant theme for the age group that would read this novel.
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The Face on the Milk Carton, Laurel-Leaf: 2009 (originally published 1990)
Aside from discussing the text’s specific theme of identity, theme could become an important topic to
study using other text within the text set.
Point of View
The point of view in this novel, being third person omniscient, allows students to understand multiple
perspectives. They are able to understand what is happening in the story through different lenses and are
therefore able to engage with the text and make connections to the characters.
Suspense
The idea of suspense is easily teachable in this novel because most every chapter ends with a
“cliffhanger.” Students will be able to feel that suspense, the need for resolve, and many discussions can
be had about the author’s purpose in writing that way and what suspense does for the reader.
6. Affective Issues Related to the Work
Students will relate well to this book. 8th graders will relate to Janie’s struggle with identity as she
struggles to understand what makes her who she is. Throughout this unit teachers will also ask difficult
questions that ask students to think about and evaluate their belief system on many difficult subjects. As
students are given the opportunity to discuss and think about difficult topics it is expected that they will
react well.
In chapter 1 Janie talks about being bored with how normal and uninteresting she is. Of course that all
changes once she sees her face on the milk carton, but this initial struggle is something many students
will relate to well. Teachers can choose to have discussions or assignments based on what makes you
unique, or different journal writing activities where students think about it an “interesting life” is really
all that exciting and worthwhile. What if you found out you had been kidnapped? Is that worth the price
of being “boring?”
Some students in the class may be adopted, or come from non traditional families. They will likely relate
well with Janie’s struggle to define what determines family, and who she can love. Can she really love a
whole other family, or is that disloyal? If your mom remarries can you love your step-dad? Is that
disloyal? These students could likely add great insight to class discussions. If it seems they’re too shy to
open up to the class, perhaps they could thrive on some type of reflective writing exercise on this subject.
More details about this are given below in “Implications for Student Diversity.”
7. Vocabulary Issues
This novel is relatively easy to read, with few genuinely difficult words to read and understand. There
are several level 2 vocabulary words, however, that students would benefit from learning.
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The Face on the Milk Carton, Laurel-Leaf: 2009 (originally published 1990)
filching p. 5
jaded p. 5
mortified p. 6
ruefully p.7
loathed p. 8
articulate p. 8
deluge p. 15
wharves p.17
hydroplaned p. 19
rara avis p. 28
sophomoric p. 36
vague p. 59
deprivation p.65
tentatively p. 68
extricate p. 60, p. 84
reassurance p. 60
docile p. 82
clamored p. 91
entice p. 82
wended p. 73
evoked p. 80
Examples of usage that model good writing:
● The kids complained about the architecture of the school (all that space dedicated to passing
periods and hardly any to lunch), but they loved being crammed in, filching each other’s potato
chips, telling secrets they wanted everybody to overhear, passing notes to be snatched up by the
boy you hoped would snatch them, and sending the people on the outside of the crush to get you
a second milk.
● “A deluge like this,” said Reeve happily, “a true Noah’s Ark type rain, you should have some
decent flooding.”
● She was like a very tall, docile toddler: she simply obeyed her Leader; her mind was strangled.
● If she could just see the birth certificate, she could extricate herself from this dumb idea.
● Her father entered tentatively, as if he did not know her or the room. “Something wrong, honey”
Why are you mad at us?”
8. Implications for Students of Diversity
This novel has no issues relating specifically to racial diversity, or students with special needs. This
story could easily happen to a student of any race, and it certainly doesn’t play a devisive role in the
novel. Something that is important to address with students is that families come in all different shapes
and sizes. Some of the students in this class may not come from traditional households. Some may be
adopted, or even raised by extended family. Janie struggles heavily with herself as she decides who can
she love- feeling she has to pick between her biological parents and her “kidnap” parents, as they are
later called through the series. A discussion about what makes you family would be important to discuss.
Do you have to be related by blood to consider someone family? Can you love more than one set of
parents? Is Janie wrong or bad if she loves both? Students with step-parents must struggle as they try to
cope with new parents and a new family dynamic in their lives. Teachers may find these issues more
explicitly mentioned on pages 77, 88, 93, 99, 116, 120, 121, 138, and 158. The true issue, however, is
found all throughout the novel.
Janie also comes from a wealthy family. In chapter 3 she details their lovely, perfectly decorated home.
She talks about being an only child and how her parents loved her dearly, giving her everything she ever
wanted. In chapter 11 Janie sees her real family for the first time. They have several kids, and not as
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The Face on the Milk Carton, Laurel-Leaf: 2009 (originally published 1990)
much money. This is made clearer in the other novels of the series, but students may be able to pick up
on Janie’s description of her siblings as looking differently than her. Students may be coming from low
socioeconomic statuses, and may find a hard time connecting with Janie, or even resenting the life of
naive bliss that she seems to live in. It might be wise to have a difficult conversation about whether or
not Janie was better off being kidnapped. She’s never lived with her real family, but she has lived much
better than she would have otherwise. Which life is better? Is she a “bad person” if she prefers the
Johnsons and the life there? Teachers should be aware that this could be a sensitive subject for some
students. The aim of the discussion is to talk about real, difficult issues, not to make students feel like
they need money to be happy.
9. Gender Issues
Gender is not a significant issue within this novel. Janie talks about how she’s tried several hobbies,
giving up on all of them. However, none of them are really correlated in any way to gender. That’s
really the closest this novel comes. Gender, gender roles, and/or gender stereotypes among society are
not portrayed in this novel, either.
10. Research Issues/Project Ideas
1. Students may complete a final assessment that is an extension of the storyboarding activity where
they actually make a book trailer. They would need to utilize text, found images, and music to relate
meaning. This use of media is consistent with goals and requirements found in the common core. This
would also require them to analyze how images can create meaning, and which moments/details in the
book best portray the themes and story of the novel.
2. Students will create an analysis of their own identity and what has contributed to it. We’ve spent
considerable time over the novel discussing what constitutes identity, and struggled with its complexities
as we’ve tried to understand Janie’s dilemmas. Students will create a missing person’s ad with a picture
from their childhood, just like Janie, and instead of a brief description of “the child” and their
appearance, students will create a full analysis of themselves. They will also detail the journey they
might have gone through to understand/develop their identity.
3. Students may complete a research based process where they strive to find out and compile a document
assessing and analyzing the role of honesty in our country. Are there historic or informational texts dear
to our country that seem to be based in being truthful and honest? Can they cite a multiplicity of popular
texts in our canon whose main themes center around being honest? They could also cite and analyze the
concept of “Honest Abe.” How did he get this nickname? Abraham Lincoln is one of the most beloved
presidents of all time- is it because of his perceived honesty? Students must provide at least 5 items of
evidence, complete with contextualization and analysis, citing how they think honesty/truth functions in
our society. Remember, they may write about how they think our society is actually based in the
practice/belief of dishonesty.
11. TEXT SETS and Enrichment Resources
WEBSITES:
● http://us.missingkids.com/home
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The Face on the Milk Carton, Laurel-Leaf: 2009 (originally published 1990)
FILM:
● The Face on the Milk Carton. Dir. Waris Hussein. Perf. Kellie Martin, Sharon Lawrence,
Edward Herrmann. Dorothea G. Petrie Productions, 1995. TV Movie.
● Abduction. Dir. John Singleton. Perf. Taylor Lautner, Lilly Collins, Alfred Molina. Lionsgate,
2011. DVD.
PODCASTS:
● Switched at Birth from This American Life
○ “Switched at Birth.” This American Life. WBEZ, Chicago. 25 Jul. 2008. Radio.
● Make Him Say Uncle on the episode Go Ask Your Father from This American Life
○ “Go Ask Your Father.” This American Life. WBEZ, Chicago. 13 May 2005. Radio.
NOVELS:
● The Outisders.
○ Hinton, S. E. The Outsiders,. New York: Viking, 1967. Print.
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Taylor, King, Wright BYU 2013