Review: The Voice on the Radio
The emotional turmoil continues with a horrible invasion of privacy, and writing that keeps kids zooming forward.
What Parents Should Know
The emotional turmoil continues with a horrible invasion of
privacy, and writing that keeps kids zooming forward.
Common Sense Media Review
The suspense doesn't let up in this second sequel to
Caroline Cooney's gripping
The Face on the Milk Carton, the story of how Janie
Johnson recognized her own picture as a three-year-old missing
child. Janie has returned to live with her Connecticut parents,
and her New Jersey family has moved to a spacious new house.
Things seem to have settled down, but a new problem is brewing
in Boston.
Reeve learns he wants fame so much he'll betray the girl he loves to get it. He doesn't start out with a plan to captivate all of Boston with Janie's private story--he simply blurts it out, and then can't stop. He constantly tells himself he won't do any more "Janies," but he loves the sensation of controlling an audience: "Reeve could feel his listeners. It was an incredible hot sensation. He knew they were there. Glued, hungry, thirsty. He was just as glued. He was hungry and thirsty to hear himself."
Ironically, Reeve's weakness helps Janie find strength in the arms of Mrs. Spring, who has ached to be a mother to her. Janie accepts the burden of keeping her Connecticut parents ignorant of this latest disaster. Realizing she is stronger than they, she finally begins to see herself as a Spring rather than as a Johnson.
Teenagers focus on their own relationships with their peers. This book fascinates young readers weaving their way through the intricacies of love, loyalty, strength, and weakness. They'll be happy to know that Janie's saga continues in the last book in the series, What Janie Found.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
Join Us