public static <T> T readValueFailSilently(final String json, @NonNull final Class<T> clazz, final T defaultValue) {
        if (json == null) {
            return null;
        }
        try {
            return mapper.readValue(json, clazz);
        } catch (IOException ie) {
            Log.w("JsonUtils: failed to read value as class " + clazz.getName() + ":'" + json + "'");
            return defaultValue;
        }
    }
converts a json string to a JsonNode. Fails quietly.
main/src/main/java/cgeo/geocaching/utils/JsonUtils.java