Janie is betrayed

by boyfriend who tells secrets.

Sequel delivers.

Megan Reed
EDCI 4120
7/30/08
Cooney, C. (1996). The voice on the radio. New York: Delacorte Press
Grade Levels: 8-12
Category: Realistic Fiction
Read Alouds: pp 1-20(Reeve does his first Janie); pp. 5-81(Jodie says she doesn’t want kids); pp. 103-114(Fake Hannah calls radio station and Janie hears Reeve’s Janie)
Summary: After making the terrible decision to stay with her Connecticut family Janie’s life start coming back together. Janie’s brothers and sister from New Jersey came to visit her in the summer and they liked her other family. The one thing in Janie’s life that isn’t quite how she likes it is Reeve. She has dreams of marrying him. She can’t imagine being without him. Unfortunately Reeve is in college in Boston. Reeve feels lost as a freshman among thousands at his new school and all he wants to do is fit in. One day he decided he wanted to be on the school radio. After telling his classes and dorm that he will be on the radio Reeve freezes up in front of the microphone. The only thing he can think of to talk about is Janie’s face on the milk carton so he starts telling personal stuff and can’t stop. Janie’s sister Jodie is a senior in high school and one weekend Jodie, Brian and Janie all go to Boston so Janie can see Reeve and Jodi can look at some colleges. While they are there they tune into Reeve’s radio show and hear him telling all. They are so angry with Reeve. Janie breaks up with Reeve and he is finally able to stop doing the Janie’s.
Themes: Family is a big theme in this book. Janie has two families. The Springs who live in New Jersey that she was kidnapped from when she was three and the Johnsons who live in Connecticut who raised he after their daughter brought Janie to them claiming Janie was their grand daughter. In this book Janie learns to love both families. Keeping secrets is another interesting theme in this book. Janie is always keeping things from her family in Connecticut. She doesn’t think they are strong enough because they are on heart medicine after they found out that their daughter had kidnapped Janie. She didn’t even tell them about Reeve radio show about her. Another theme is forgiveness. Mrs. Spring forgave Janie for behaving the way she did last year. She forgave Stephen for something she wouldn’t tell about and Janie forgave Reeve for his betrail.
Discussion Questions: Was Stephen forgiven for going to college in Colorado? Will Janie and Reeve ever be able to get back together and forgive? Is the secret that Reeve is keeping from Janie come back to harm their relationship more?
Reader Response: The more I read of this series the more I like it. I thought the first book stated off kind of slow and the second book didn’t have as much interesting things happen. This book, however, kept me more interested even though she didn’t find out anymore about her kidnapping.

Janie's boyfriend Reeve gets a job at his colleges radio station. He freezes, and cant do it. In desperation he starts to tell Janie's story on air. He is the only one that Janie can trust. She goes with some friends to visit the college and they hear Reeve on the radio and hear him telling her story. She finds strength and forgiveness with the help of her real family, and a real love for them as well. Source: Booklist

Cooney is one of the best young adult authors I've come across. She writes books starring realistic characters but with enough drama and intrigue to keep the reader going long after they have outgrown young adult novels. Reading this book about ten years after my initial reading has done nothing to dull the story. ( )

Oh the betrayal! Read to find out what happens and how Janie deals with it. ( )