The Mailbox

I don't know if I was influenced by the fact that I haven't been thrilled with the last two audiobooks I listened to, but I loved this book. I did feel the ending went on a little longer than it probably needed to - that the extra continuations took away some of the impact that could have been had by ending things a little earlier and less tied up - but that's a minor quibble.

Listened to Recorded Books Audio Edition narrated by Nick Landrum. The narration was excellent with Landrum creating different voices for each character including slight Southern accents when appropriate.

This could also be an excellent classroom novel that would connect well with Vietnam War units or would work well for book discussion groups of 4th or 5th grade up through 8th or so. I still think my Caudill vote would go to Savvy, but this knocks Schooled out of contention for me for sure. Schooled was good, but I definitely liked this better. ( )

Fantastic book! I could really feel how Gabe felt and how strong he was, despite his rough life. He allows others in even when there have been so many times he has been let down. You laugh and cry and even mourn for Guppy, the dog!

I read this book because I was intrigued by the mystery it seemed to hold. It holds more than that.

This is a book about: fostering, adoption, pet fostering, death and life, trust, and facing your fears.

Gabe is used to veing shuttled from foster home to foster home when a caring caseworker is finally able to locate his uncle who agrees to take him in. Death strikes unexpectedly and Gabe finds himself alone and unsure of what to do. When this happens he also finds a curious correspondence has begun between him and a stranger, via Uncle Vernon's mailbox.

This is a book written for juveniles but it explores some very mature themes. There is some discussion about a Vietnam vet who mistakenly fired upon a Vietnamese child who was firing on him. This tragedy haunted the vet who eventually fited upon himself due to thd guilt for which he couldn't forgive himself...
This same veteran, though mentally unstable, reaches iut to Gabe, via the mailbox, and the two become friends from afar. Each helps the other in his own way, to face a world without Vernon.

This story also portrays teachers, caseworkers, and law officials as being human beings with feelings and with the ability and need to reach out to others. In the end, the story line is nicely tidied up with everyone moving appropriately forward.

I strongly caution a pre-read by parents and teachers prior to allowing or encouraging children to read this book. While it is well-written and thought-provoking, in my opinion, it should probably only be read by kids ages 10 or 12 and older. And then only if they will not be tormented by a man shooting half his head off in an attempt to expunge himself of guilt... This story has its place but it isn't for everyone. It certainly isn't something I'd have chosen to read if I'd known the subject matter more fully. If our boys choose to read it I'll be glad I've already read it. ( )

Gabe a foster child is sent to live with his uncle, Vernon, a veteran of the Vietnam War. It is hard for him to attend at school for the first day because he knows only a few kids. But the situation gets worse after he finds his uncle dead after his first day of school. Since he is afraid to go back to foster home again, he doesn’t report his uncle’s death. When he returns home after the second day of school, he finds a note in the mailbox: “I have a secret” and his uncle’s body is gone. The blanket he used to cover the body is folded and someone has left a sandwich and a bottle of juice for him. The next day, he is afraid to return to the empty house, but there is a note again and food even for his uncle’s dog, Guppy. He receives the notes every day and tries to unravel the puzzle of the notes in the mailbox. He realizes that even when he thinks that he is alone, he is not.

It is one of the more gorgeous books I have read. You cannot put the book away until you find who the writer of the notes is, and what happened to the body. It is very well written and is suitable for young adults in grade five to seven. Those who like mystery books, you will love this book. It reveals how people are far away emotionally, and they just think about themselves. Nobody in the town notices the absence of Vernon. ( )

This book caught me by surprise, and the end was so touching I found myself in tears as I drove and listened to the audiobook. Gabe has finally found a home and family with his Uncle Vernon. But when he finds Vernon dead and the body disappears, Gabe is on his own to fend for himself, for awhile at least. ( )