The Face on the Milk Carton

When Janie’s parents yell at her, she knows that they care about her and feels loved. She smiles, remembering other times that they have yelled at her. Frank shouts at Janie for smiling. Janie apologizes and thinks that she does not want anyone else to be her parents. She says that “Nothing happened” on her drive with Reeve (121). Frank and Miranda tell Janie how worried they were. They connect Janie’s disappearance with Hannah’s decision to run away. When Janie tells her parents and Reeve’s that Reeve helped her process the news that Frank and Miranda are not her biological parents, they grow quiet. Reeve’s mother says that she is proud of him.

Janie hugs her parents as Miranda sobs. She wonders if her parents are thinking of her or of Hannah. That night, Janie awakens from more nightmares. She cries and decides to give up the Springs and commit to her current life. After an uncomfortable breakfast with her parents, Miranda drives Janie to school. Sarah-Charlotte and other friends press Janie for details about her relationship with Reeve. She playfully refuses to tell them, but her good mood quickly fades.

Janie’s class goes to the library to do research.