Book Review: I Will Always Write Back by Caitlin Alifirenka, Martin Ganda, and Liz Welch

I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives by Caitlin Alifirenka, Martin Ganda, and Liz Welch

Summary by Goodreads:

The true story of an all-American girl and a boy from an impoverished city in Zimbabwe and the letter that changed both of their lives forever.
It started as an assignment. Everyone in Caitlin's class wrote to an unknown student somewhere in a distant place. All the other kids picked countries like France or Germany, but when Caitlin saw Zimbabwe written on the board, it sounded like the most exotic place she had ever heard of--so she chose it.

Martin was lucky to even receive a pen pal letter. There were only ten letters, and forty kids in his class. But he was the top student, so he got the first one.

That letter was the beginning of a correspondence that spanned six years and changed two lives.

In this compelling dual memoir, Caitlin and Martin recount how they became best friends --and better people--through letters. Their story will inspire readers to look beyond their own lives and wonder about the world at large and their place in it. 

My Thoughts:

I am so glad I grabbed this memoir from our school library to read over the summer.  It was so uplifting and gave me hope that there are still kind, caring families in the world raising their children to work hard and think about others.  Others have criticized this book for its simplistic writing, but I found it refreshing as I know my students will be able to read it and understand the bigger messages written throughout the book.  I think it is important to stop everyone now and then, and think about how lucky my life is and this book reminded me to do that.  Wonderful message and another book I am adding to my book talk list when school starts in the fall!