{"product_id":"9780440421344","title":"The Mailbox","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFor readers of \u003ci\u003eUnbroken\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eFlags of Our Fathers\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Mailbox\u003c\/i\u003e is a sympathetic portrayal of veterans and the burdens they carry throughout their lives.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e   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:\u003cbr\u003e   I HAVE A SECRET. DO NOT BE AFRAID.\u003cbr\u003e   And his uncle's body is gone. \u003cbr\u003e   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?\u003cbr\u003e   \u003ci\u003eThe Mailbox\u003c\/i\u003e 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. \u003ci\u003eThe Mailbox\u003c\/i\u003e is a story about connections—about how two people in need can save each other.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Mailbox\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJunior Library Guild Selection\u003cbr\u003eA Bank Street College Best Children's Books of the Year\u003cbr\u003eA Librarians' Choices Booklist Selection\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Shafer’s narrative is \u003cb\u003eheartfelt, earnest and moving\u003c\/b\u003e. . . and conveys the power of memory to help heal wounds.”\u003ci\u003e—Kirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Warm and moving, it is \u003cb\u003ean evocative picture of the weblike nature of human existence \u003c\/b\u003eand the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate experiences.”\u003ci\u003e—School Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Random House Children's Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47028018741488,"sku":"9780440421344","price":6.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780440421344_p0.jpg?v=1769893695","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780440421344","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}