Plot & Events
What does Janie see on the milk carton that changes her life?
A picture of a missing child who looks like her.
What is Janie’s full name as she knows it at the start of the book?
Janie Johnson.
What major theme is explored through Janie’s discovery of the milk carton?
Identity and self-discovery.
What point of view is used in the novel?
Third-person limited (focused on Janie).
What is the author’s primary purpose in writing this story?
To explore the psychological impact of identity and family secrets.
Who is Reeve in relation to Janie?
Janie’s next-door neighbor and friend.
How does Sarah-Charlotte react to Janie’s concerns about the milk carton?
She dismisses it as a coincidence.
How does the milk carton function as a symbol?
It represents lost children and the search for truth.
How does Cooney build suspense in the narrative?
Through cliffhangers, gradual revelations, and Janie’s internal conflict.
Which literary device is used when Janie’s memories “swirl like a tornado”?
Simile.
What is the name of Janie’s best friend?
Sarah-Charlotte.
What role does Sarah-Charlotte play in Janie’s normal life?
She represents Janie’s connection to her everyday teenage world.
What theme is reflected in Janie’s fear of losing her current family?
The conflict between truth and loyalty.
Which mood is created by Janie’s discovery of the milk carton photo?
Tension and anxiousness
What is the impact of the setting on the plot?
The ordinary suburban setting makes the kidnapping revelation more shocking.
What item triggers Janie’s memories of her past?
A polka-dot dress.
How do Miranda and Frank respond when Janie confronts them?
They become defensive but eventually reveal the truth about Hannah.
How does the setting (suburban Connecticut) contrast with the story’s dark themes?
The safe, ordinary setting emphasizes the shock of Janie’s discovery.
What role does figurative language play in the novel?
It deepens readers’ understanding of Janie’s emotions and themes.
Where does Janie believe she might have been kidnapped from?
A shopping mall in New Jersey.
What secret is revealed about Hannah?
Hannah is involved in a cult and left Janie with her grandparents.
How does Janie’s relationship with her “parents” reflect the theme of identity?
It shows her struggle to reconcile her love for them with doubts about her true origins.
What does the act of looking at yearbooks represent for Janie?
A search for tangible proof of her past.
How does the author’s use of symbolism enhance the novel’s themes?
Symbols like the milk carton and polka-dot dress underscore the search for identity and the past.
What action does Janie consider taking to find out the truth?
Calling the phone number on the milk carton.