Janie Johnson series
Encyclopedia
The Jennie Spring/Janie Johnson series is a series of a young adult novels written by Caroline B. Cooney
.
The series consists of:
mall when she was three years old while going shoe shopping. Janie believes the carton must be some type of joke because her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, are very loving parents. Janie tries to put it out of her mind, but she begins having flashbacks, or what she calls "daymares", of events and people that don't fit in with her current life. She "remembers" other children and a woman who is not Mrs. Johnson.
Janie goes to the attic and rummages through the boxes that she finds there. In the boxes she finds school papers with the name Hannah. She also finds the polka-dotted white dress that she saw on the milk carton. When confronted by Janie, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson explain that Hannah is their daughter, and that Janie is Hannah's daughter, their granddaughter. Hannah was a confused teen and joined a cult
at a young age. She was married to one of the men in her cult and one day showed up at the Johnsons' house with Janie. Hannah returned to her cult, and the Johnsons left Janie fearing that the cult would try to get her back, moving to a different state, and even changing their names from "Javensen" to "Johnson." Janie comes to the conclusion that the memories are of her life in the cult before coming to the Johnsons. Janie is relieved that the people whom she believed to be her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, were not kidnappers.
However, Janie cannot get the picture on the milk carton or the memories of another family out of her mind. She researches the Jennie Spring kidnapping. She comes to the conclusion that her parents might have actually kidnapped her. But, she still loves them and tries to forgive them. Still, Janie and her boyfriend Reeve go to New Jersey to see the Spring family with their own eyes. The entire family has the same red hair that Janie has, which neither Mr. and Mrs. Johnson or even Hannah have. It is evidence that Janie can't ignore, but she tries to anyway. She writes the Spring family a letter, but she doesn't mail the letter because she is still unsure about what to do. While at school, Janie loses the letter and the decision of whether to tell or not is taken out of her hands as she realizes that someone might have dropped it in the mail. Finally Janie decides go to ask her parents and confront them with everything she has learned. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are shocked. They figure that Hannah was probably the one who kidnapped Janie; they also decide that the Springs must be called. Janie tries to keep them from telling anyone because she loves them very much and doesn't want to hurt them. But Janie's mother is adamant, the Springs have been without their daughter for too long. At the end of the book, Mrs. Johnson calls the Springs and Janie talks to what might be her real mother for the first time.
two years previously for prostitution, they journey to New York to find the woman responsible for everything. In the end, "they find Hannah" living on the streets in New York City, they decide that she had been punished enough and return home to New Jersey.
(where his college is) with her brother and sister, she hears one of his college broadcasts. That same night, Reeve receives a call in from a woman claiming to be Hannah, but Reeve disconnects her before she can say much else. After that call, Reeve receives a call from Brian, asking him to come to the hotel room. There, the three confront Reeve, furious at him. Janie breaks up with Reeve, refusing to speak to him again.
The rest of the novel deals with Reeve's efforts to talk to Janie, though Janie continuously refuses. When visiting her biological mother in New Jersey, Janie breaks down crying, and tells her everything. Mrs. Spring suggests that, though it might be difficult, Janie should forgive Reeve. When Reeve visits his family for Thanksgiving
break, Janie holds out her hand and asks to talk to Reeve, and he reaches for it. Before the end of the novel, it is revealed that Hannah died many years ago, and is buried in California
.
. Janie's older brother Stephen is currently going to a college in Boulder so the three decide to go visit Stephen, all making up their own reasons to visit the area. While they are there, Brian and Reeve decide finding Hannah is a bad idea. Janie takes the longest to convince but eventually after she has a talk with Stephen she decides it would be best not to find Hannah, as it would be too painful for everyone. Janie mails Hannah the rest of the money and tells her to break off contact with the Johnsons. Meanwhile, Janie and Reeve repair their relationship and Brian becomes much closer with Janie and her adoptive parents.
In 1995, The Face on the Milk Carton was combined with Whatever Happened to Janie? and made into a movie called The Face on the Milk Carton (film)
for television, distributed by Fox Family (now ABC Family
), directed by Waris Hussein
and starring Kellie Martin
.
Caroline B. Cooney
Caroline B. Cooney is an American author of suspense, romance, horror and mystery books for young adults. She currently resides in Fort Mill, South Carolina....
.
The series consists of:
- The Face on the Milk Carton (1990)
- Whatever Happened to Janie? (1993)
- The Voice On The Radio (1996)
- What Janie Found (2000)
The Face on the Milk Carton
While at lunch one day, she grabs a friend's milk carton which changes her life. She noticed the "missing person" photo on the back of the milk carton; it happens to be herself when she was very young, dressed in a white polka dotted dress. The milk carton says that Jennie Spring was kidnapped from a New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
mall when she was three years old while going shoe shopping. Janie believes the carton must be some type of joke because her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, are very loving parents. Janie tries to put it out of her mind, but she begins having flashbacks, or what she calls "daymares", of events and people that don't fit in with her current life. She "remembers" other children and a woman who is not Mrs. Johnson.
Janie goes to the attic and rummages through the boxes that she finds there. In the boxes she finds school papers with the name Hannah. She also finds the polka-dotted white dress that she saw on the milk carton. When confronted by Janie, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson explain that Hannah is their daughter, and that Janie is Hannah's daughter, their granddaughter. Hannah was a confused teen and joined a cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
at a young age. She was married to one of the men in her cult and one day showed up at the Johnsons' house with Janie. Hannah returned to her cult, and the Johnsons left Janie fearing that the cult would try to get her back, moving to a different state, and even changing their names from "Javensen" to "Johnson." Janie comes to the conclusion that the memories are of her life in the cult before coming to the Johnsons. Janie is relieved that the people whom she believed to be her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, were not kidnappers.
However, Janie cannot get the picture on the milk carton or the memories of another family out of her mind. She researches the Jennie Spring kidnapping. She comes to the conclusion that her parents might have actually kidnapped her. But, she still loves them and tries to forgive them. Still, Janie and her boyfriend Reeve go to New Jersey to see the Spring family with their own eyes. The entire family has the same red hair that Janie has, which neither Mr. and Mrs. Johnson or even Hannah have. It is evidence that Janie can't ignore, but she tries to anyway. She writes the Spring family a letter, but she doesn't mail the letter because she is still unsure about what to do. While at school, Janie loses the letter and the decision of whether to tell or not is taken out of her hands as she realizes that someone might have dropped it in the mail. Finally Janie decides go to ask her parents and confront them with everything she has learned. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are shocked. They figure that Hannah was probably the one who kidnapped Janie; they also decide that the Springs must be called. Janie tries to keep them from telling anyone because she loves them very much and doesn't want to hurt them. But Janie's mother is adamant, the Springs have been without their daughter for too long. At the end of the book, Mrs. Johnson calls the Springs and Janie talks to what might be her real mother for the first time.
Whatever Happened to Janie?
Janie is forced to leave the safety of her adoptive parents who had raised her, the Johnsons, and live with her biological parents and four siblings, Stephen, Jodie, and twins Brendan and Brian. Although all of the Spring family members are eager to include her, she desperately misses her adoptive parents, with whom she is allowed no contact, so she is emotionally aloof. She also has some trouble adjusting; she is called "Jennie" by the family, but refers to herself as "Janie." She goes to a new school (a grade behind where she was previously), and she lives in very close quarters with her new brothers and sister. As things start to improve and Janie starts to feel more at home, though, they experience a setback when the FBI shows up to question Janie. Finally, Janie asserts her desire to return to her adopted family, and her biological parents love her enough to let her go. Janie is thrilled and can't wait, but only then does she realize how much her biological parents love her. Once she gets home she realizes that things can never be the same again and her moving has not only affected her, but her adopted parents as well. However, Janie's siblings, Stephen and Jodie, are angry and upset that they are once again losing their sister. Having discovered that Hannah had been arrested in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
two years previously for prostitution, they journey to New York to find the woman responsible for everything. In the end, "they find Hannah" living on the streets in New York City, they decide that she had been punished enough and return home to New Jersey.
The Voice on the Radio
Reeve Shields is in college, and Janie is very anxious to finish high school so she can go to college with him. One day, Reeve gets a spot on the local college radio. Embarrassed at having nothing to talk about, Reeve begins discussing the story of Janie's kidnapping, meeting her new family, and returning to her adoptive parents. However, when Janie decides to visit Reeve in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
(where his college is) with her brother and sister, she hears one of his college broadcasts. That same night, Reeve receives a call in from a woman claiming to be Hannah, but Reeve disconnects her before she can say much else. After that call, Reeve receives a call from Brian, asking him to come to the hotel room. There, the three confront Reeve, furious at him. Janie breaks up with Reeve, refusing to speak to him again.
The rest of the novel deals with Reeve's efforts to talk to Janie, though Janie continuously refuses. When visiting her biological mother in New Jersey, Janie breaks down crying, and tells her everything. Mrs. Spring suggests that, though it might be difficult, Janie should forgive Reeve. When Reeve visits his family for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
break, Janie holds out her hand and asks to talk to Reeve, and he reaches for it. Before the end of the novel, it is revealed that Hannah died many years ago, and is buried in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
What Janie Found
Frank Johnson has had a heart attack and stroke and she is asked to help with the bills. Janie finds a folder marked 'H.J' in her father's files and wants to read it by herself but her brother Brian and Reeve want to be included. They find out that Mr. Johnson had been sending money to his supposedly dead daughter Hannah. They find out that she may be living in Boulder, ColoradoBoulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
. Janie's older brother Stephen is currently going to a college in Boulder so the three decide to go visit Stephen, all making up their own reasons to visit the area. While they are there, Brian and Reeve decide finding Hannah is a bad idea. Janie takes the longest to convince but eventually after she has a talk with Stephen she decides it would be best not to find Hannah, as it would be too painful for everyone. Janie mails Hannah the rest of the money and tells her to break off contact with the Johnsons. Meanwhile, Janie and Reeve repair their relationship and Brian becomes much closer with Janie and her adoptive parents.
Film, TV or theatrical
In 1995, The Face on the Milk Carton was combined with Whatever Happened to Janie? and made into a movie called The Face on the Milk Carton (film)
The Face on the Milk Carton (film)
The Face on the Milk Carton is a made for television movie based on the book series written by Caroline B. Cooney. The movie stars Kellie Martin as Janie Jessmon, a 15 year old girl who finds her face on the back of a milk carton and puts the pieces of her past together.-Plot:Janie Jessmons ...
for television, distributed by Fox Family (now ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
), directed by Waris Hussein
Waris Hussein
Waris Hussein is a British-Indian television director and film director best known for his many productions for British television....
and starring Kellie Martin
Kellie Martin
Kellie Noelle Martin is an American television actress who is known for her roles as Rebecca Thacher on Life Goes On, Christy Huddleston on Christy, Lucy Knight on ER, and Samantha Kinsey on Mystery Woman.-Early life:...
.