The Face on the Milk Carton

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“The Face on the Milk Carton: Chapter 19”

In this activity, students develop a creative writing response that depicts the conversation between Janie and her biological mother.

This novel ends with a cliffhanger, as Janie, Frank, and Miranda call the Spring family’s number. Pretend that you are tasked with writing the next chapter of this novel, Chapter 19. Write a short chapter in which you capture this initial conversation between Janie and the Springs. Consider the following questions as you write your chapter:

• What would Janie and the Spring family say to one another?
• How would Janie feel speaking to her birth mother? Would she be confident or shy?
• How would Frank and Miranda react to the phone call?
• How would the phone call end?

Remember to be creative in your response, while also maintaining the integrity of the characters as well as the novel’s writing style. For example, try to maintain the novel’s third person perspective.

Teaching Suggestion: This activity is suitable for either individual or group work. If students wish, responses can be shared with the class.