The Mailbox

Uninspiring title. Unexciting cover. The jacket summary informs me that it's another book about a troubled foster child who has been shipped from house to house, but he really wants - needs - a home. Two or three years ago, I counted FIVE of these stories among the Caudill nominees. That is fully one quarter of the nominees!

The idea is that in order for there to be conflict and tension and action and adventure, the parents must be removed from the scenario. James of the Giant Peach lost his parents in the first chapter to a stampeding rhinoceros. Harry, THE Harry, never even knew his parents who were killed because they tried to protect him. And poor Holling Hoodhood, the Wednesday Warrior, his parents worked full-time and had very little time for Holling even when they were home. So these characters are forced to make choices on their own without the moral direction and guidance of a parent. Other more eccentric, or malicious, or magical adults take the place of the parents and offer much of the force towards the action.

The Mailbox by Audrey Shafer IS a story of a foster boy, Gabe, but it is NOT uninspiring, unexciting, or ordinary in anyway. In fact, it is so beautiful and well-written that I was surprised to find out that this is her debut novel. The language is gorgeous even when the characters are rough around the edges as well as inside and out. I would encourage you to give this book a try. You will be greatly rewarded with surprises around many corners. And a feel-good ending that might leave you in tears. Like me. Again.

Gabe is not sure what happened to his mother. At the young age of two, he began the journey from one foster family to another. When he turned nine, his social worker accidentally discovered that his mother had a much older brother, Vernon, a Vietnam War vet with a fake leg. As cantankerous and reclusive as Uncle Vernon is, he still agrees to raise his nephew. On the one hand, he puts Gabe to bed with such philosophy as, "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." But on the other hand, Uncle Vernon has power tools and knows how to use them. He is also more than willing to teach Gabe how to run them as well.

Two-years later and Gabe is a 6th-grader. He returns home from his first day of school to find Uncle Vernon dead in the middle of the floor. Unable to deal with the situation, and scared to be taken away, Gabe attempts to continue his life as if nothing has happened. And when Uncle Vernon's body is stolen the next day, it becomes a little bit easier to function as if Uncle Vernon just stepped out and will soon return.

That same day, Gabe receives a letter in the mailbox. The front side says, "I have a secret." The back side says, "Do not be afraid." But Gabe is afraid. Very afraid. And yet he begins a correspondance with this stranger through the mailbox and a friendship forms. In the process, Gabe learns more about his extraordinary Uncle. Gabe wants to honor his uncle's memory and make him proud. A child left to his own devices, and yet he manages to run the household he is now heading with more pride and good sense than many grownups. You'll have to read the book to meet the grownups that care for Gabe and are impressed by him.