In Caroline Cooney’s last installment of the Janie books, Janie Johnson is once again trying to figure out the facts from her kidnapping at the age of three. Thinking she is finally starting to put the occurrence behind her, she finds another piece of evidence that she so desperately wants to investigate. With her father in the hospital, she is assigned to take care of the monthly bills. When Janie comes across an envelope marked “HJ,” she is left wondering if her father has been lying to her and is actually supporting his daughter Hannah, the woman that kidnapped her. Janie goes on an adventure with her friend Reeve and brother Brian to try and find the answers she knows she deserves. As Janie once again searches for the truth, she unexpectedly realizes she has the power to forgive and love again and most of all make peace with her kidnapping past and herself.
Cooney’s final novel in the “Janie” series allows the reader to keep gaining insight into the worried character of Janie. The author constantly writes exactly what Janie is thinking. Cooney’s narration relies heavily on dialogue between the three main characters as they try to strategize how to find and contact the kidnapper. The reader is left with a feeling of closure as the series culminates. This series is recommended for grades seven through nine that enjoy reading about the constant triumphs and tribulations of one character.
