A break-up letter written on an airplane barf bag, longing letters sent from jail, photos of happy celebrations, lots of very talented doodles and one deflated balloon with a wish tied to it that said "I wish I won't flunk sixth grade!" The book is filled with objects sent in to the author because of his Found magazine. It's a homage to humanity. Misspelled but heartfelt declarations of love and lust, notices for unusual lost items, musicians looking for a band, angry back and forths between teenagers in class, a couple that are clearly suicide notes, and notes left on windshields of people who can't park. All the mess that humans can put on paper. ( )

The idea of looking at Found stuff intrigued me, especially as it was a lot of notes. However, I got bored with the notes, as they weren't always all that interesting. I eventually just gave up. I do have to say that the algebra test in the book makes up for almost all of the boring stuff. ( )

This book is kind of amazing. Yes, it's filled with assorted found items (mostly handwritten notes), but what gets me is how it looks like the whole thing was laid out by hand and photocopied, like a higher-quality version of a zine. It's also not the sort of thing you can just casually flip through. I found myself repeatedly sucked into the stories of these strangers, at times sad and hilarious and maddening - sometimes simultaneously. It's inspired me to look down from time to time to see what treasures lay at my feet. I also have a couple things I may yet send in. ( )

A fascinating scrapbook-like collection of intriguing items (mostly paper items) people have found in odd places. Love notes, to-do lists, self-help admonitions, legal papers, half-told tales...the variety is amazing. You can't help but try to finish the stories in your mind, when you get this tiny glimpse into the plot of people's lives.

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

I don't read non-fiction all that often, but I was intrigued by FOUND when it was nominated as a 2007 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults. And I'm very glad I picked up a copy!

FOUND is, quite simply, a book filled with notes, letters, lists, pictures, and other miscellaneous items that have been found--either in the trash, on a sidewalk, stuck on a windshield, or just about anywhere else--that people have sent to the editors of FOUND Magazine for inclusion.

There is no real index to allow you to search for specific found items, but you can search by state. It doesn't really matter, though, because once you get started, you'll want to read the entire book. There are found items ranging from the funny, to the heartbreaking, to the downright insane ramblings of someone who obviously needs medication.

Some of my personal favorites include:

THIS PHASE OF YOURS found in Hoffman Estates, IL
FIND GOD, START DRINKING found in Lincoln, NE
MY OWN PRIVATE LIBRARY found in Casper, WY
AARON'S ALGEBRA TEST found in Portland, ME

This is definitely an informative and funny read. I'm looking forward to the release of FOUND II on May 2nd, which should be very educational, indeed! ( )