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Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

Does anyone remember this book

14 replies

cantbelieveimaskingthis2 · 11/08/2024 23:22

There is a book probably aimed at young adults / older kids I really enjoyed as a kid and think my children may like but I can’t recall its title and wondering if anyone knows.

it’s told from the perspective of a girl, who is maybe 11 or 12 from how the story is written. Set in America. She and her mother (except she doesn’t call her mom, she calls her by her first name… maybe jessy or something?) mive around a lot, and often suddenly. Her mum gets itchy feet if they stay in one place too long. They find a really nice place and the main character for the first time starts making friends and wanting to stay put somewhere.

Towards the end it turns out the woman she thought was her mum had kidnapped her ag birth, not to hurt her but because she wanted a child. She is returned to her birth family who are strangers and visits the lady she had thought was her mother in prison.

I recall the title makes it sound like something else as I originally checked it out of the library by accident.

Ring any bells? I was a kid in the 90s so i imagine the book was published maybe 70s or 80s as it was a library book and my library didn’t have much current stuff

OP posts:
minipie · 11/08/2024 23:24

Oh this rings bells for me too. Watching.

Zonder · 11/08/2024 23:30

This is familiar!

Blurrymornings · 11/08/2024 23:32

The Face on the Milk Carton

Bushyandbright · 11/08/2024 23:33

Could it be The Face on the Milk Carton? I think that was published in the 90s though - but I remember reading it as a kid in the 90s too!

minipie · 11/08/2024 23:33

Could be Joyride by Amy Ehrlich? Also published as Where it stops, Nobody knows

Blurrymornings · 11/08/2024 23:34

No that’s the wrong one. Still good though!

Blurrymornings · 11/08/2024 23:36

Where it stops nobody knows

Blurrymornings · 11/08/2024 23:38

This was the exact cover I had!
childrensbookshop.com/book-45300.html childrensbookshop.com/book-45300.html]]]]

cantbelieveimaskingthis2 · 11/08/2024 23:39

WHERE IT STOPS NOBODY KNOWS!!! Yes this!!! Oh my goodness THANK YOU mumsnet! I have been driving myself mad!

my 9 year old son will love it, he loves a tale with moral ambiguity.

OP posts:
cantbelieveimaskingthis2 · 11/08/2024 23:39

Bushyandbright · 11/08/2024 23:33

Could it be The Face on the Milk Carton? I think that was published in the 90s though - but I remember reading it as a kid in the 90s too!

No though in my hunting i came across it and think my kids will also like it

OP posts:
Blurrymornings · 12/08/2024 00:03

@minipie i cross posted with you - I was saying that my guess of the face on the milk carton was wrong!

Noseybookworm · 12/08/2024 00:04

I haven't read this but it reminds me of a book I read ages ago, called The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard. Don't want to give away the story but it was SO good and stayed with me long after I read it. It was made into a film with Michelle Pfeiffer.

Also reminds me of a true crime book called I Know My First Name is Steven. Really heartbreaking story.

LutonBeds · 12/08/2024 00:06

cantbelieveimaskingthis2 · 11/08/2024 23:39

No though in my hunting i came across it and think my kids will also like it

There were a few of sequels too:

Whatever Happened to Janie
The Voice on the Radio
What Janie Found
Janie Face to Face

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