I lived for the Janie series in my teens — you know them — the mystery series about a girl who goes missing but doesn’t really seem to know until she sees herself on a milk carton. I devoured them. Let’s take a walk down memory lane with Ms. Caroline B. Cooney who is still producing quality mystery books for teens and take a look at covers past and present.

The Face on the Milk Carton was published in 1990. I like all of the covers, but I remember the middle one being the one of my childhood. The last one has a cool different (and kind of techno) inspiration, no?

Twenty Pageants Later was published in 1991. I love this cover! Talk about what you expect a prom-esque cover to look like in the early 90s. Take this one against Richard Peck’s forthcoming paranormal one, eh?

Freeze Tag gives us one incomprehensible cover (what is going on on the right?) and a super creepy ice princess on the left. This was published in 1992.

Some of these are just hilarious, especially with the tag lines. “The Sweet Smell . . . of EVIL.” The Perfume was published in 1992.

Driver’s Ed was published in 1994. I sincerely hope the photo of the girl on the left isn’t on her driver’s license. She looks 9! The redesign is much stronger and still holds immense appeal.

Talk about a good creepy title! Night School was published in 1995.

There are a ton of titles dealing with fire and burning from Cooney. Burning Up was published in 1999 and I think I like both covers. The one on the left is eerie from the perspective of it looking innocent. The one on the right is just a blaze which sets a good vibe.

I wish my remote were that simple, don’t you? Tune in Anytime was published in 1999. I think the cover on the left might be more of a throwback to the invention of remotes, since I don’t ever remember having one with that few buttons. The one on the right’s a little more accurate.

Talk about two totally different covers for the same book. Goddess of Yesterday was published in 2002. I think the cover on the left is very boy-appealing (you know, minus the “goddess” part) and the one on the right screams girl appeal. I love the coloring there.

2005 saw the publication of another one that screams “fire” to me — Code Orange. I really dig this cover. It stands out on the shelf.

Perfectly haunting. Diamonds in the Shadow was published in 2007.

Two covers for a newer title, too. Enter Three Witches was published in 2007. The first is drawn and the second is a photo. Interesting to offer one of each.

Three Black Swans was published this year — I just really dig this cover. The black, grey, and red color scheme works well, and the swan positioning is inviting and repelling at the same time.

It cracks me up that almost every one of her covers tauts her as the “Bestselling author of The Face on the Milk Carton.” Did you notice that?

Do you have a favorite? What elements work or don’t work for you on her covers? I have to admit, I’ve only read the Janie series, so I can’t comment on the others.