The Mailbox - Dark Publications

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Product Description
Vernon Culligan had been dead to the town of Draydon, Virginia, so long that when the crusty Vietnam vet finally died, only one person noticed. Twelve-year-old Gabe grew up in the foster care system until a social worker located his Uncle Vernon two years before. When he comes home to discover that his uncle has died of a heart attack, he's terrifed of going back into the system--so he tells no one. The next day, he discovers a strange note in his mailbox: I HAVE A SECRET. DO NOT BE AFRAID. And his uncle's body is gone.

Thus begins a unique correspondence destined to save the two people that depended on Vernon for everything. Through flashbacks, we learn about Gabe and Vernon's relationship, and how finding each other saved them both from lives of suffering. But eventually, Vernon's death will be discovered, and how will Gabe and the mystery note writer learn to move forward? THE MAILBOX is not a story about death--though it begins with a death. It's also not a story about Vietnam vets, although the author works with Vietnam veterans and wrote this novel, in part, to illuminate their sacrifices and suffering. THE MAILBOX is a story about connections--about how two people in need can save each other.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Please Mr. Postman look and see October 29, 2006
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

Any of you familiar with "booktalks"? This is a skill set cultivated and perfected almost entirely by teen and children's librarians. The idea is this: You walk into a
classroom. The kids in that classroom are looking at you like you're some kind of freak and the last thing they want is for you to go bobbing about telling them how simply marvelous the library is. What you need is a little something up your sleeve. Something to get them genuinely interested in the books sitting on the shelves. Hence, the booktalk. It's basically a trailer or preview for a book. You don't give away any big plot points and you don't give them a synopsis of the story. What you do is give them a little taste of what the book can offer them. Why am I telling you this? Because it's been a really really long time since I found a book I wanted to booktalk more than Audrey Shafer's, "The Mailbox". It doesn't look like much. It has the standard sepia-toned inanimate object photograph so common in children's bookcovers today. But read the first fourteen pages and then tell me you don't want to know so much more than the book is telling you. A book for kids that would impress Hitchcock himself, this one.

Twelve-year-old Gabe Culligan's had a rough life, but things have evened out really nicely for him lately. You see, for years Gabe was a foster kid, shuttled from place to place without a home. Then his social worker found his long-lost Uncle Vernon and things were looking good. Sure, Uncle Vernon's kind of crusty. He has a prosthetic leg and a gruff manner, but it's obvious that he and his nephew get along really well. You can't blame Gabe for not knowing that Vernon would have secrets. So one day, Gabe comes home from school and Uncle Vernon's dead on the floor. Well what would you do? You can't blame the kid for not wanting to deal with the situation. The next morning he goes to school like usual and tries not to think about what to do. When he gets home, there's a note in the mailbox. On one side it says, "I have a secret". On the other side it says, "Do not be afraid". But when Gabe comes into the house and finds his uncle's body has disappeared, he is afraid. Very.

Man, do you have a treat in store for you. If you haven't read the book yet you've no idea how good it's going to be. To begin with, first time author Audrey Shafer doesn't come across as first time at all. Her writing is crisp and full of perfectly placed little descriptions. When Gabe discovers his uncle's body right off the bat he cries. "Messy crying, the kind of crying that leaves you swollen, red, and leaky". When later he pets his dog at the base of the neck between the shoulders, "He could lose his hands there, then pull his fingers up, like pink fish rising from a bed of soft seaweed". One more. "Evening, with her blowing skirts of cooling breezes and rustling leaves, swirled her colors, first fiery then deep blue, through the house and around the house". I marked about four or five more of these great sentences, but I'll let you off the hook and have you find them on your own when you read the book.

Characters are beautifully defined here as well. First of all, there's the heroic teacher Mr. Boehm. He has a sense of humor, which makes him suspect. As Gabe knows, teachers that joke are separated into two categories. "Joking teachers were either friendly and open, or closed to all but their own humor, in love with their own voice". I think we all know that more than teachers alone fit that description. Every person has their own agenda and their own way of doing things in this story. You get a sense of who they are and what they want through Shafer's writing. And you want good dialogue? Well, I was sad for the death of Uncle Vernon for all kinds of reasons. Perhaps most of all because his comforting bedtime philosophy came out along the lines of, "Scum-lickin' pus-suckin' buckets of trouble ken happen whether you're good or bad. But why git spit by skunk muck? Stay low and steer clear of screw-ups, Gabe". Sound advice. This what is later referred to as, "the usual scrubbed raw dash of wisdom".

What I especially appreciated about this book was the arc of the storyline. Here we have Gabe living on his own without a guardian, his dead uncle missing, and a mysterious somebody sending him letters. So many books begin with a good premise then sort of peter out because they can't maintain their storyline. It's a lot easier to come up with a cool idea than it is to sustain it. Shafer does both and the ending is so good and so deeply satisfying that you find yourself wanting to start the whole book over for a second read when you've finished.

There were some problems with the book, I'm afraid. Fortunately they were all little things. The story sort of assumes that all the kids reading it are intimately familiar with "Of Mice and Men". As such, it keeps talking about Lenny without mentioning that he was a character in that particular book. Definitely expect a number of confused head-scratching kids at these parts. You might find the ultimate solution to Gabe's problem a little pat as well, but it's now wholly unexpected. Shafer can pretty much lead you wherever she wants to go after a while. I doubt many will object.

If a book could be called "good" by the number of post-its I've placed on its pages to remember later, then this book set a new record. A whopping fourteen post-it notes all lurking in strategically important areas. Fortunately, "The Mailbox", won't have to rely on my say-so alone. Expect it to be one of the surprise hits of this or any other year. The dark horse. It's a remarkable debut and strong start to the career of a woman destined to be one of children's literature's greats. Now go read it.

5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful book for middle schoolers on up January 10, 2007
3 out of 5 found this review helpful

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is a story that can be enjoyed on several levels, but is also a good read. The presentation of the issues faced by Vietnam vets was also well done, and would be a good way for a young person to get an appreciation for that difficult period in American history.

5 out of 5 stars

What an inspiring story of love and hope! September 8, 2007
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

Thank you, Audrey Shafer for pouring your heart into this beautiful story. The tale is one of mystery, regret, comfort, loss, sacrifice, and the joy of being. Dr. Shafer deftly inserts contemplative literary references to Of Mice and Men and The Call of the Wild. I loved your book and I believe it is true: A Book is a Friend.

5 out of 5 stars

Great meaningful book for kids June 6, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

A great book for ages 10 and up. I read this with my 12 year old daughter. It is a great story about a 6th grade boy who comes home one day to find his uncle/guardian dead. Before he can take any action the body disappears and mysterious notes are left in the mailbox. The characters are charming and issues of foster children and war veterans are covered. There are some fun scenes in the classroom that had us laughing. It was great to read this well written book of substance with my child. If you tired of fluffy, shallow kids books you will love this book.

4 out of 5 stars

Exellent Book! May 9, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

I thought that it was an exellent book with in depth desciptions! I am usually not drawn to books like The Mailbox, but started reading it after a friend recommended it. Once I started reading it I couldnt put it down!

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