book review for i will always write back

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‘I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives’

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By Priscilla Gilman

• May 8, 2015

In a suburban Pennsylvania classroom in 1997, a life-altering moment: Caitlin Alifirenka, “a typical 12-year-old American girl,” more interested in what she “should wear to school” than what she “might learn there,” chooses a pen pal from Zimbabwe. Caitlin has never heard of Zimbabwe, but the name, “exotic, and difficult to pronounce,” intrigues her.

The pen pal she’s matched with is a studious, cheerful, bright 14-year-old boy named Martin Ganda. Admonished by his mother that “school is your only hope,” he has made it his goal always to be No. 1 in his class so he can earn a scholarship for college. He and his friends “all knew and loved America, . . . the land of Coca-Cola and the W.W.F.,” and Caitlin’s first letter, bubbly, effusive, quintessentially American in its references to roller skating and bowling, pizza and the Backstreet Boys, enchants him. She, in turn, is charmed by his exuberance and integrity, and likens his letter to “a winning lottery ticket.”

But while Caitlin enjoys a comfortable middle-class life, Martin’s family is desperately poor; they live in one of Zimbabwe’s worst slums and share one room with another family, a mattress their only furniture. It becomes hard for Martin to reciprocate Caitlin’s friendly gestures. A photograph is prohibitively expensive. He has to carry luggage for tips simply to keep up their correspondence. So he makes “the only promise that I knew I could keep: that I would always write back, no matter what.”

“I Will Always Write Back” is Caitlin and Martin’s dual pen-pal autobiography, told in their alternating voices. Written with Liz Welch, it spans the six years from their first exchange of letters to Martin’s arrival on United States soil, where he will study at Villanova on a full scholarship secured for him by Caitlin’s indefatigable, big-hearted mother, and go on to earn an M.B.A. from Duke University.

Initially, Martin decides “to keep it light”; he doesn’t want to “trouble Caitlin with my life worries or scare her off.” But as things worsen for his family after his father loses his menial job and Caitlin begins to worry about why he hasn’t written her, he decides to tell her the truth. Even paper is too expensive, so he has to write his letter on a discarded ice-cream bar wrapper. Seeing the wrapper and hearing that Martin has had to leave school because his family can’t pay the fees, Caitlin sends him $20 she earned babysitting.

One of the story’s most important messages is how small contributions can have a huge impact. The dollar Caitlin sends pays for “enough groceries for two weeks,” while that $20 is “more money than my father made in several months,” Martin writes, and enables him to return to school. Medicine from Caitlin’s grandmother’s bathroom saves Martin’s mother ’s life when she’s stricken with malaria.

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I WILL ALWAYS WRITE BACK

How one letter changed two lives.

by Caitlin Alifirenka ; Martin Ganda with Liz Welch ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 14, 2015

A feel-good, message-driven book that may appeal to adults more than teens.

A pen-pal correspondence between an American girl and a Zimbabwean boy blossoms into a lifelong friendship.

In alternating chapters, the authors relate their story, which begins in 1997 when 12-year-old Caitlin chooses a boy in Zimbabwe for a pen-pal assignment. Caitlin’s privileged life in Pennsylvania differs tremendously from Martin’s hardscrabble life in millworkers’ housing, where his family shares one room with another one. The top student in his class, Martin dreams of studying at an American university, but even just continuing high school in Zimbabwe seems like a long shot. Caitlin, not recognizing the extent of Martin’s poverty, sends some of her babysitting money with her letters, and Martin’s family uses it for food. Eventually, Caitlin and her parents become Martin’s sponsors for his studies and help him obtain a scholarship to Villanova University in 2003. Written with journalist Welch, the heartfelt recollections read like an overlong magazine article. The early chapters in particular have the inauthentic feel of sentimentalized adult reminiscence, and they accentuate the difference between an American whose eyes are open to the value of international friendship and her less-enlightened classmates. The action builds toward the happy climax of Martin’s arrival in the United States, but at the same time, it conveys a sense of the power of do-gooder, take-charge Americans to effect change.

Pub Date: April 14, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-316-24131-1

Page Count: 400

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2015

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION

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THE NEW QUEER CONSCIENCE

From the pocket change collective series.

by Adam Eli ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2020

Small but mighty necessary reading.

A miniature manifesto for radical queer acceptance that weaves together the personal and political.

Eli, a cis gay white Jewish man, uses his own identities and experiences to frame and acknowledge his perspective. In the prologue, Eli compares the global Jewish community to the global queer community, noting, “We don’t always get it right, but the importance of showing up for other Jews has been carved into the DNA of what it means to be Jewish. It is my dream that queer people develop the same ideology—what I like to call a Global Queer Conscience.” He details his own isolating experiences as a queer adolescent in an Orthodox Jewish community and reflects on how he and so many others would have benefitted from a robust and supportive queer community. The rest of the book outlines 10 principles based on the belief that an expectation of mutual care and concern across various other dimensions of identity can be integrated into queer community values. Eli’s prose is clear, straightforward, and powerful. While he makes some choices that may be divisive—for example, using the initialism LGBTQIAA+ which includes “ally”—he always makes clear those are his personal choices and that the language is ever evolving.

Pub Date: June 2, 2020

ISBN: 978-0-593-09368-9

Page Count: 64

Publisher: Penguin Workshop

Review Posted Online: March 28, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2020

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR

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TAKING ON THE PLASTICS CRISIS

by Hannah Testa ; illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 13, 2020

Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change.

Testa’s connection to and respect for nature compelled her to begin championing animal causes at the age of 10, and this desire to have an impact later propelled her to dedicate her life to fighting plastic pollution. Starting with the history of plastic and how it’s produced, Testa acknowledges the benefits of plastics for humanity but also the many ways it harms our planet. Instead of relying on recycling—which is both insufficient and ineffective—she urges readers to follow two additional R’s: “refuse” and “raise awareness.” Readers are encouraged to do their part, starting with small things like refusing to use plastic straws and water bottles and eventually working up to using their voices to influence business and policy change. In the process, she highlights other youth advocates working toward the same cause. Short chapters include personal examples, such as observations of plastic pollution in Mauritius, her maternal grandparents’ birthplace. Testa makes her case not only against plastic pollution, but also for the work she’s done, resulting in something of a college-admissions–essay tone. Nevertheless, the first-person accounts paired with science will have an impact on readers. Unfortunately, no sources are cited and the lack of backmatter is a missed opportunity.

Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2020

ISBN: 978-0-593-22333-8

Review Posted Online: July 26, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION

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• I Will Always Write Back: How One...

I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives

When Caitlin picked Zimbabwe for her school pen pal program, she had no idea how it would impact her life. Twelve-year-old Caitlin lived in the Pennsylvania suburbs. Martin Ganda lived in the slums of Zimbabwe. A series of handwritten letters connected their unlikely friendship. 

Caitlin had no idea what life was like outside of the US, let alone the exotic country of Zimbabwe. She had no idea how lucky she was to have running water, electricity or public schools. Martin taught her that life is bigger than break-ups and mall trips. 

Martin knew that he could never really help his family survive the increasingly poor “neighborhood” without being the best of the best in his school. He studied hard but couldn’t always be there with his family starving at home. He needed support. He needed Caitlin. 

Through terrorist attacks, strikes, sickness and starvation, they made one promise to each other: no matter what happened, they would always write back.

"This is a book that every teen should read. No more paranormal romance or apocalyptic survival stories; I WILL ALWAYS WRITE BACK puts all them all to shame."

I knew what was going to happen from the beginning of I WILL ALWAYS WRITE BACK, and there are pictures in the back that illustrate the outcome. Even so, I could not put the book down.  It was a book about the journey and it got me (and my family) completely hooked. This is a book that every teen should read. No more paranormal romance or apocalyptic survival stories; I WILL ALWAYS WRITE BACK puts all them all to shame. It is so real, sweet and laugh-out-loud funny — plus it’s a true story. 

This book was wonderfully written. I bonded with Caitlin and Martin because I WILL ALWAYS WRITE BACK painted their situation so well and the dialogue was so true to life. I related to Caitlin when she wrote about the pen she used --- the kind that has multi-colored buttons that can turn the ink different colors.

Usually books written through letters don’t work because it’s hard to relate with no context. Instead of writing word for word what the letters said, the authors illuminated their daily lives to give interesting context to their long distance friendship. It helped depict that friendship is more than having things in common and being good company. It’s about having faith that your friend will always be there for you (in writing, in this case). I loved everything about this book and it definitely has a spot in my top five. I know it will be in yours, too. 

If you love adventure, friendship and to be inspired, read this book.  Heck, if you hate books and reading in general, read this book --- you will like it anyway.  

Reviewed by Maya B., Teen Board member on April 17, 2015

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

• Publication Date: May 3, 2016
• Genres: Nonfiction
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• ISBN-10: 0316241334
• ISBN-13: 9780316241335

I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives

By Martin Ganda, Caitlin Alifirenka

Book Reviews (38)

OMIGOSH. This book is soo good. It is about a girl who writes a letter to a boy in Zimbabwe and it turns out to be an amazing life long relation. They both consider each other brother and sister even though they are teased it may be a bit more. The girl (Caitlin) finds out the boy (Martin) is struggling to afford to stay in school and even afford food and housing, her generosity helps the whole family from clothing to education and everything in between. This is a really amazing book that reminds you how much of a difference you can make. I would recommend this for kids ages 8-any age.

True story!

This book has great reviws and seems interesting so I might try reading it!

This story opened up my eyes to other parts of our world, instead of just the United States. Caitlin Alifirenka is just a normal 7th grade girl. She has crushes on boys, wishes she could stay up later, and shops at the mall 24/7.  Martin Ganda is a boy from Zimbabwe, Africa. His life is hard- their family has no shoes, is going on the brink of poverty, and all sleep in the same room. Even with all of that going on, Martin is the best student in his whole school. He plans to finish school, unlike his mother and father. Unless some school fees will have to cut him off short. So when Caitlin has an assignment to write to a penpal in a different country, Caitlin picks Zimbabwe, for it sounds the most interesting. She asks in the letter what Zimbabwe is like, what they do there, what is their favorite so and so. Back in Zimbabwe, Martin is one of the smartest ones, so he is given one of the ten letters that received the classroom. His letter was from Caitlin, and asked him what life was like. Martin wrote back what they did and things like that.  But secretly, Martin was holding back. He was worried Caitlin wouldn't want to keep on writing if she found out that he was very poor. The letters are continuing, and both friends feel closer than they've ever been with anyone before. Caitlin goes through boy drama, and Martin is going through the drama of school fees and poverty. So Caitlin starts sending him money in their letters. This makes a tremendous impact on Martin's family and life. Realizing the impact, Caitlin and her family start sending Martin and his family care packages, gifts, and money. It seems like they've gotten over any obstacle. Except one. College. Trying to bring Martin to the US, Caitlin and her mother work frantically for colleges and money. Both pen pals have helped each other. Can they help each other one last time? A true story that is reread worthy, I Will Always Write Back, is definitely a fantastic book. Happy reading!

This true story was sooo inspiring and it proved how strong their bond was. Starting as a 7th grade project, these two kids from different sides of the world, grew up and formed a bond that would never be broken as pen pals. A kid from Africa dealing with poverty and a girl from America, help each other survive and open each other's eyes in the best way possible!

You can read this book over and over and never get bored!!

AMAZING!!!!! This book changed my life! I cried and laughed at the same time! Truly incredible, inspiring, and a must-read for children of all ages!

this book changed my world. It taught me to look at the world a different way.

My friend told me about it and now I want to get the book

For a class project, Caitlin has to choose a country to have a pen pal in. There are a lot of choices, but Caitlin decides to pick Zimbabwe, a country in Africa, to send her letter to. She has no idea that by picking Zimbabwe, her life is changed forever. Martin is living in Zimbabwe when he gets a letter all the way from America. He decides as soon as he reads that letter that he will respond no matter what. He doesn't know by that writing back to Caitlin, his life is also changed. Martin and Caitlin keep sending letters to each other, and those letters turn into much more than a class project - it turns into a huge friendship. This incredible true story is one of my favorite books. I could read it again and again. I highly recommend this book to boys and girls ages 11+.

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I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives Hardcover – Illustrated, 30 April 2015

It started as an assignment. Everyone in Caitlin's class wrote to an unknown student somewhere in a distant place. Martin was lucky to even receive a pen-pal letter. There were only ten, 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 their long-distance exchange. Their story will inspire readers to look beyond their own lives and wonder about the world at large and their place in it.

• ISBN-10 0316241318
• ISBN-13 978-0316241311
• Edition Illustrated
• Publisher Little, Brown Young Readers
• Publication date 30 April 2015
• Language English
• Dimensions 15.24 x 3.49 x 21.91 cm
• Print length 400 pages
• See all details

Product description

About the author.

Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda met as pen pals in 1997 and are still best friends today.

Liz Welch is an award-winning journalist and memoirist whose critically acclaimed first book, The Kids Are All Right co-authored with her sister Diana Welch, won an ALA Alex Award.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown Young Readers; Illustrated edition (30 April 2015)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316241318
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316241311
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 17 years
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 3.49 x 21.91 cm
• 29 in Books on Homelessness & Poverty for Young Adults
• 87 in Biographies of Social Activists for Young Adults
• 424 in School & Education Material for Young Adults

About the authors

I Will Always Write Back is Liz Welch's second book. Her first, The Kids Are All Right, won an ALEX Award in 2009. An ASME award winning journalist and a contributing writer at Inc. Magazine, Liz's work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Vogue, Real Simple, Glamour, O, The Oprah Magazine, The New York Times, and many others publications. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and daughter. Visit her at: www.lizwelch.com

Martin Ganda

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Caitlin Alifirenka

Caitlin Alifirenka (Stoicsitz) was born in 1985 in Chestnuthill, Pennsylvania to Anne Neville and Richard Stoicsitz. Caitlin started corresponding with Martin Ganda, her Zimbabwean pen pal, in 1997 which led to a life long friendship. After graduating from North Penn High School in 2003, Caitlin attended Abington Memorial Hospital's Dixon School of Nursing and now works as an Emergency Room Registered Nurse. Caitlin lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband Dzmitry Alifirenka and their two young daughters, Mila and Dasha.

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I will always write back: how one letter changed two lives.

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Based on 28 kid reviews

Beautiful Book -- Must Read for All

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Amazing lessons and role models and very educational with a few inappropriate things, i will always write back (how one letter changed two lives)by caltinal alifenka&martin ganda with liz welch, amazing story about friendship that everyone should read, really eye opening.

Ford Library

Book review: i will always write back.

Daytime MBA 2014 alumnus Martin Ganda is president and co-founder of Seeds Of Africa Foundation, a scholarship fund for promising yet impoverished students in Zimbabwe, a resource to enable them to achieve their academic dreams. Martin’s organization is a way of giving back, as he spent his early years as an impoverished boy in rural Zimbabwe. When he reaches school age, Martin’s mother makes clear that education is his only road out of poverty. He excels as a student yet his opportunities are few. Eight years later, he is matched with a pen pal, a 12 year old girl from Pennsylvania, and his destiny changes.

I Will Always Write Back , is Martin’s new book, the story of how he and his co-author Caitlin Alifirenka began their correspondence as a school assignment, and then continued for 6 years, developing a close friendship. Written in two voices, alternating between Caitlin and Martin, the story begins in Zimbabwe, where Martin and his family share a four room house with another family, 12 people in all. He attends school in a crowded classroom, four students to a desk meant for one. Each day the teacher brings in four textbooks to share with all students.

Martin’s environment is desperately poor, but his correspondence with Caitlin shows him how life could be different. He stays focused on academic achievement and receives top grades on national exams. He earns a scholarship at the best private school in Zimbabwe, a residential school that leads to a university.

Meanwhile Caitlin’s life focuses on her friends, crushes on boys and shopping at the mall, although the shallowness may be a deliberate choice to highlight the contrast. Caitlin sends Martin a photograph and asks him for one in return. For Martin a photograph is prohibitively expensive, but his mother sacrifices the only family photo she owns, taken when Martin scored highest on a national placement test in school. Then Caitlin sends him a dollar, which in Zimbabwe is enough to buy family groceries for two weeks. After she sends him a Reebok T-shirt, Martin carries luggage at the bus station for tips for two months to buy her a pair of earrings.

After a few years, Caitlin begins to understand Martin’s hardship and the issue of poverty in general. As conditions in Zimbabwe deteriorate, she sends him her earnings from babysitting. With her mother’s help, she sends large boxes of clothing and supplies. A few years later, Caitlin’s mother helps Martin through the U.S. college application process, working with university administrators at many schools until she secures a full scholarship for him to Villanova.

There are many to admire in this book, especially Martin Ganda. He, his mother and Caitlin’s mother all set high goals and are determined to meet them. They work hard despite significant obstacles and in the end are rewarded with success. Life is significantly better for Martin and his family at the end of the book. This inspiring work is recommended for all readers.

© Meg Trauner & Ford Library – Fuqua School of Business. All rights reserved.

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I Will Always Write Back

91 pages • 3 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

“Caitlin: September 1997”-“Martin: November 1997”

“Caitlin: January 1998”-“Caitlin: May 1998”

“Martin: June 1998”-“Martin: October 1998”

“Caitlin: December 1998”-“Martin: April 1999”

“Caitlin: May 1999”-“Caitlin: June 1999”

“Martin: June 1999”-“Caitlin: December 1999”

“Martin: January 2000”-“Caitlin: February 2000”

“Martin: February 2000”-“Caitlin: September 2000”

“Martin: November 2000”-“Caitlin: December 2000”

“Martin: January 2001”-“Martin: April 2001”

“Caitlin: April 2001”-“Martin: July 2001”

“Caitlin: September 2001”-“Martin: June 2002”

“Caitlin: August 2002”-“Martin: September 2002”

“Caitlin: October 2002”-“Martin: December 2002”

“Caitlin: January 2003”-“Martin: April 2003”

“Caitlin: April 2003”-“Caitlin: July 2003”

“Martin–July 2003”-“Martin–August 14, 2003”

“Caitlin: August 15, 2003”-“Caitlin: October 2015”

Key Figures

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

I Will Always Write Back is a dual-perspective memoir written by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda , with Liz Welch as a contributing author. The New York Times bestselling memoir was published in 2015. Through alternating narratives, Caitlin and Martin tell the story of how they became pen pals in 1997 and eventually lifelong friends. The memoir features excerpts from real-life letter correspondences between the two narrators as well as their present-day accounts of past events.

Plot Summary

Caitlin Alifirenka is a student at Pennfield Middle School in Pennsylvania when her class is issued an assignment to select a pen pal from another country. Caitlin selects Zimbabwe, as she wants to learn about a place that is unfamiliar to her. In the town of Mutare in Zimbabwe, Martin is one of the few students who receives a pen-pal letter from the US. He receives Caitlin’s letter and writes her back, beginning a regular correspondence over shared music tastes and cultural exchanges. They promise to write each other regularly, no matter what happens.

While Caitlin assumes that Martin is a middle-class person like herself, she eventually realizes that Martin’s life in Zimbabwe is not so fortunate. During their correspondence, Martin’s father loses his job and the family struggles to come up with the funds to keep Martin in school. This devastates Martin, who has big dreams to finish his O-level exams and move into A-levels for a chance at studying at a US university. He can no longer afford postage to write Caitlin, taking odd jobs wherever he can find them to help feed his family. When Martin stops responding to Caitlin’s letters, she realizes something is wrong. After Martin realizes that he can no longer earn enough money himself to finish his semester of school, he decides to ask Caitlin for money. Caitlin begins to send Martin some of the money she earns while babysitting. When it becomes too much to do on her own, she finally enlists the help of her parents, who start to send Martin money as well. The money that Caitlin’s parents send allows Martin to complete his semester and register for O-level exams. He completes his exams with the highest score in his school across all nine subjects.

When Martin’s headmaster tells him that attending the Marist Brothers school in Nyanga, a private boarding school, would be a way of guaranteeing his admission to a US university, Martin does everything he can to attend the school. He manages to borrow money from his cousin, Alois, to pay the deposit for a semester at Marist Brothers. Eventually, through hard work, Martin gains a scholarship to attend the Marist Brothers school. During this time, Caitlin’s mother communicates with Martin more regularly about US college admissions and scholarship prospects. She tells Martin about registering for the SAT. She begins to explore scholarship opportunities at colleges in Pennsylvania, encouraging Caitlin to do the same. Meanwhile, Caitlin experiences personal growth through her family’s support of Martin’s journey. Inspired by Martin’s passion and hard work, she makes the decision to go to nursing school.

While Caitlin and her mother are initially confident about Martin’s chances of getting a scholarship to a US university, the process proves more challenging than they thought. Although Caitlin’s mother has shared Martin’s heartfelt story with many colleges, these institutions are only able to offer partial scholarships, which is not enough. When college acceptances and rejections start to arrive, Martin does not receive a full scholarship from any of the colleges he has applied to. In a final effort, Caitlin’s mother shares Martin’s story with the president of Villanova University, in the hopes that it may move the university to provide Martin with a full scholarship. To Caitlin and her mother’s surprise, the president of Villanova University agrees to a full scholarship on the condition that Martin arrives in time for the start of the fall semester.

As Martin nervously awaits the one-way ticket that Caitlin’s parents have bought for him, a delivery issue leads to the ticket’s delay. After Caitlin’s father intervenes with the airline, Martin is able to board his flight in time to arrive in the US as planned. When Caitlin and Martin meet for the first time, they are overjoyed, and refer to each other as family.

In the narrative’s present, Martin reveals that he successfully completes his education at Villanova University, where he works several part-time jobs to afford to buy a house for his family in Zimbabwe. He also pursues his MBA at Duke University and eventually becomes an analyst for an investment banking firm. Meanwhile, Caitlin gets married to Dzmitry and has two children with him. She becomes a registered nurse and continues to live in Pennsylvania. Their story inspires many others to perform small acts of kindness. 

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I will always write back : how one letter changed two lives

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From the dustiest of shelves comes the most priceless books, book review: i will always write back.

Books can draw you in with many methods. Sometimes it’s the cover, or the big name author on the front of it. A gripping title can pull you in, and sometimes a good review is all you need. But in reality, what makes you love a book and want to keep on reading is one very important thing:

A few months ago, I was browsing the crowded shelves of Barnes and Nobles when I came across a brightly colored hardback. I read the blurb and was hooked, but saw the price of the pretty hardback and sadly had to place it back onto the shelf.

Thankfully the next day I found it at my school library.

“What is this book?” you may ask. Well, the book is called I Will Always Write Back by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda, with Liz Welch.

This book is a memoir about two young kids, Caitlin and Martin, who are both about thirteen or fourteen, who begin sending pen pal letters to each other through their school. Seems normal, right? However what makes this relationship unique is that Caitlin is from suburban Pennsylvania and Martin is from poverty stricken Zimbabwe. This book is all about their growing friendship, the difficulties they face, and the keeping of their sacred promise that they will always write back.

The one thing I find interesting about this book is that it is not the most well written, yet you don’t really care. But don’t worry, it’s not super cheesy or dry; actually it is extremely life-like and relatable. However the Caitlin and Martin, both the children and the authors, are not writers by trade, nor do they claim to be. Liz Welch, a memoirist (I think that’s a thing) helps the story become a book, however all the facts are still there and are true. I saw on Goodreads that the girl Caitlin commented on a review in which the person felt the events were not realistic enough, and she assured the person that everything in the book happened, and gave reasoning why and how.

In the beginning of the book, Caitlin’s attitude towards the world is exactly what you would think they would be; shallow and very worldly. There were times when I thought my head would explode if there was one more fight between Caitlin and her newest best friend or one more boy she dated for a week. However it was amazing to see her transformation as the book went on and she began to learn about Martin’s life and how privileged her own was. There is a complete mental shift, as her thoughts began to be drawn more towards others rather than herself. Now she is not perfect in this way; she still does some silly and foolish teenager things as the story goes on and she grows up, but she grows more conscious of others and the role she could have in helping them.

I felt like her chapters also progressed in writing style. As Caitlin grew up, so did her writing, and it became a bit more coherent, a bit less middle-schoolish, and extremely heartwarming.

Martin’s chapters were some of my favorites. I live in a similar environment to Caitlin, so I could easily understand that lifestyle and mentality. Martin’s though smacked me in the face. I knew of the poverty in various countries of Africa. I’ve grown up in the church, and have heard stories about mission’s trips and fundraisers to help the people of that side of the world for my whole life, but something about reading it from the perspective of someone living there created a whole different world to me. I also admired and was astounded with Martin’s desire for school. I am a very academic individual, and I am and always have been someone who loves school and learning. However I can be lazy, and see school as a chore, just one I enjoy doing. However I get to choose when I want to enjoy school or not, as there isn’t much risk for me. Martin doesn’t have that luxury. He has to work to pay for his education, many times missing months of school before he is able to pay. He study’s into the late hours in the night, even sometimes breaking into the library after hours simply to ensure he earns the highest grades possible. The diligence and loyalty he has towards his education, his family, and his friends is amazing, and something I think each and every person should learn from.

This book was a life changing book. Soon after I read it I went to the store and bought it. Since then I have lent to a few different friends, all of which have loved it. I even lent it to a friend who lived in Kenya for a while as a missionary, and saw people living in similar circumstances to Martin, and she loved it, and praised the end.

Ah the end, I won’t spoil it, but it is beautiful.

I love a hopeful book, which is what this book is. It inspires hope for a brighter future. It inspires hard work for your dreams. It inspires a sense of compassion, in which I now want to do my part helping people like Martin go on to do big things. Right now, I am not sure how that will happen, but what I do know is that this book will stay with me forever, and I will act because of it.

Thank you Caitlin and Martin, for inspiring me, and many others, to think not for ourselves, but to those we will always write back to.

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I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives Hardcover – Illustrated, April 14, 2015

• Print length 400 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 7 and up
• Lexile measure 790L
• Dimensions 6 x 1.38 x 8.63 inches
• Publisher Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Publication date April 14, 2015
• ISBN-10 0316241318
• ISBN-13 978-0316241311
• See all details

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

From school library journal, about the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition (April 14, 2015)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316241318
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316241311
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 11+ years, from customers
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 790L
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 and up
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.38 x 8.63 inches
• #6 in Teen & Young Adult Homelessness & Poverty Issues
• #15 in Teen & Young Adult Social Activist Biographies
• #57 in Teen & Young Adult School & Education

About the authors

I Will Always Write Back is Liz Welch's second book. Her first, The Kids Are All Right, won an ALEX Award in 2009. An ASME award winning journalist and a contributing writer at Inc. Magazine, Liz's work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Vogue, Real Simple, Glamour, O, The Oprah Magazine, The New York Times, and many others publications. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and daughter. Visit her at: www.lizwelch.com

Caitlin Alifirenka

Caitlin Alifirenka (Stoicsitz) was born in 1985 in Chestnuthill, Pennsylvania to Anne Neville and Richard Stoicsitz. Caitlin started corresponding with Martin Ganda, her Zimbabwean pen pal, in 1997 which led to a life long friendship. After graduating from North Penn High School in 2003, Caitlin attended Abington Memorial Hospital's Dixon School of Nursing and now works as an Emergency Room Registered Nurse. Caitlin lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband Dzmitry Alifirenka and their two young daughters, Mila and Dasha.

Martin Ganda

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

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Customers say

Customers find the story inspiring and insightful, featuring a true story. They also say the content is perfect for the times, with enough real, life-threatening drama. Readers describe the writing style as well-written, drawing them in, and difficult to put down. They say the book opens opportunities to talk and learn about different cultures.

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Customers find the story inspiring, moving, and stirring emotion. They also say the book represents a hopeful, honest reminder about life in less fortunate areas. Customers also say it brings back good teenage memories and provides an example of kindness, love, and selflessness.

"What a beautiful story . I didn't want to put it down. Two kids from across the Globe become so close, a girl in Pennsylvania USA amd a boy n Afric.a...." Read more

"...Its value is in its being a true and edifying story : It sets an example to everyone of us, and it is told in a direct and uncomplicated way which in..." Read more

" This book was inspiring . It is the true story of how a 7 th grade class project and one letter changed two lives...." Read more

"...Thank you so much for bringing back good teenage memories ." Read more

Customers find the book well-written, simple, and a quick read. They also appreciate the honest, real story. Readers say the book opens opportunities to talk and learn about totally different cultures and ways of life.

"...story: It sets an example to everyone of us, and it is told in a direct and uncomplicated way which in my opinion ought to make it good school..." Read more

"...The language of this story is simple and intended for young readers, yet at the same time it is filled with profound truths...." Read more

"...It is beautifully written . Martin, you are a strong man! Blessings to your family here and in Zimbabwe...." Read more

"...The book is well written and it draws you in. This is an excellent book for junior high aged children...." Read more

Customers find the book insightful, impactful, and draws them in. They say it gives a different perspective on the things they take for granted. Readers also say it could inspire an international exchange of ideas for young people of each country.

"...It also educates the readers about the importance of empathy, kindness and generosity." Read more

"...The book is well written and it draws you in . This is an excellent book for junior high aged children...." Read more

"This book is a powerful statement on how one thing can do so much...." Read more

"...It is motivational, shows appreciation and thankfulness, and makes students question (What can I do that can change the world?)...." Read more

Customers find the story in the book the best example of kindness, love, and selflessness.

"...It is motivational, shows appreciation and thankfulness , and makes students question (What can I do that can change the world?)...." Read more

"...It is easy and entertaining to read. I appreciated the theme of kindness across cultural boundaries...." Read more

"I love this book. It shows how the generosity of one family can change someone’s whole life...." Read more

Customers find the book a fast read that picks up with time. They also say it's encouraging and inspiring, starting at a lower reading level but picking up with the time.

"...It reads very quickly and really inspires you. It often reminded me to focus on what a blessed life I lead...." Read more

"...My grade school son really enjoyed this book. It was a very fast and easy read. He read it in two days. It is a bright, interesting story...." Read more

"...The story itself felt a little slow at times, but I know it was necessary to include every part of the journey in order to make the story authentic...." Read more

"Had to buy this book for class. Very good. Also shipped very quickly . Would buy again" Read more

Customers find the book moving, with doses of humor and sorrow. They also say it makes them smile and cry.

"...Caitlin and her family have a heart of gold. This book brought so many tears to my eyes . It was like I was sharing their adventure with them...." Read more

"...I wasn't sure if I could finish the book as it was so moving and stirred so much emotion in me...." Read more

"...The story is very real, brought tears to my eyes ...." Read more

"This is a lovely book -- well written, moving and inspiring. I liked it so much I wanted to keep it as much as I wanted to share it...." Read more

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FACT FOCUS: A look at false claims around Kamala Harris and her campaign for the White House

Democrats are quickly rallying around Vice President Kamala Harris as their likely presidential nominee after President Joe Biden’s ground-shaking decision to bow out of the 2024 race.

Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to speak from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, July 22, 2024, during an event with NCAA college athletes. This is her first public appearance since President Joe Biden endorsed her to be the next presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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The announcement that Vice President Kamala Harris will seek the Democratic nomination for president is inspiring a wave of false claims about her eligibility and her background. Some first emerged years ago, while others only surfaced after President Joe Biden’s decision to end his bid for a second term.

Here’s a look at the facts.

CLAIM: Harris is not an American citizen and therefore cannot serve as commander in chief.

THE FACTS: Completely false . Harris is a natural born U.S. citizen. She was born on Oct. 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, according to a copy of her birth certificate, obtained by The Associated Press.

Her mother, a cancer researcher from India, and her father, an economist from Jamaica, met as graduate students at the University of California, Berkeley.

Under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, anyone born on U.S. soil is considered a natural born U.S. citizen and eligible to serve as either the vice president or president.

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” reads the amendment.

There is no question or legitimate debate about whether a citizen like Harris is eligible to serve as president or vice president, said Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School.

“So many legal questions are really nuanced — this isn’t one of those situations,” Levinson told the AP on Monday.

Still, social media posts making the debunked assertion that Harris cannot serve as president went viral soon after Biden announced Sunday that he was dropping out of the race and would back Harris for president.

“Kamala Harris is not eligible to run for President,” read one post on X that was liked more than 34,000 times. “Neither of her parents were natural born American citizens when she was born.”

False assertions about Harris’ eligibility began circulating in 2019 when she launched her bid for the presidency. They got a boost, thanks in part to then-President Donald Trump, when Biden selected her as his running mate.

“I heard today that she doesn’t meet the requirements,” the Republican said of Harris in 2019.

CLAIM: Harris is not Black.

THE FACTS: This is false. Harris is Black and Indian . Her father, Donald Harris, is a Black man who was born in Jamaica. Shyamala Gopalan, her mother, was born in southern India. Harris has spoken publicly for many years, including in her 2019 autobiography , about how she identifies with the heritage of both her parents.

What to know about the 2024 Election

• Democracy: American democracy has overcome big stress tests since 2020. More challenges lie ahead in 2024.
• AP’s Role: The Associated Press is the most trusted source of information on election night, with a history of accuracy dating to 1848. Learn more.
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Despite ample evidence to the contrary, social media users are making erroneous claims about Harris’ race.

“Just a reminder that Kamala Harris @KamalaHarris isn’t black,” reads one X post that had received approximately 42,000 likes and 20,400 shares as of Monday. “She Indian American. She pretends to be black as part of the delusional, Democrat DEI quota.”

But Harris is both Black and Indian. Indeed, she is the first woman, Black person and person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president. This fact is highlighted in her biography on WhiteHouse.gov and she has spoken about her ethnicity on many occasions.

Harris wrote in her autobiography, “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey,” that she identifies with the heritage of both her mother and father.

“My mother, grandparents, aunts, and uncle instilled us with pride in our South Asian roots,” she wrote. “Our classical Indian names harked back to our heritage, and we were raised with a strong awareness and appreciation for Indian culture.”

In the next paragraph, she adds, “My mother understood very well that she was raising two black daughters.” Harris again refers to herself as a “black woman” in the book’s next chapter.

CLAIM: Harris got her start by having an affair with a married man, California politician Willie Brown.

THE FACTS: This is missing some important context. Brown was separated from his wife during the relationship, which was not a secret.

Brown, 90, is a former mayor of San Francisco who was serving as speaker of the California State Assembly in the 1990s when he and Harris were in a relationship. Brown had separated from his wife in 1982.

“Yes, we dated. It was more than 20 years ago,” Brown wrote in 2020 in the San Francisco Chronicle under the article title, “Sure, I dated Kamala Harris. So what?”

He wrote that he supported Harris’ first race to be San Francisco district attorney — just as he has supported a long list of other California politicians, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Harris, 59, was state attorney general from 2011-2017 and served in the Senate from 2017 until 2021, when she became vice president. She has been married to Doug Emhoff since 2014.

Harris’ critics have used the past relationship to question her qualifications, as Fox News personality Tomi Lahren did when she wrote on social media in 2019: “Kamala did you fight for ideals or did you sleep your way to the top with Willie Brown.” Lahren later apologized for the comment.

Trump and some of his supporters have also highlighted the nearly three-decade old relationship in recent attacks on Harris .

CLAIM: An Inside Edition clip of television host Montel Williams holding hands with Harris and another woman is proof that Harris was his “side piece.”

THE FACTS: The clip shows Montel with Harris and his daughter, Ashley Williams. Harris and Williams, a former marine who hosted “The Montel Williams Show” for more than a decade, dated briefly in the early 2000s.

In the clip, taken from a 2019 Inside Edition segment , Williams can be seen posing for photographs and holding hands with both women as they arrive at the 2001 Eighth Annual Race to Erase MS in Los Angeles.

But social media users are misrepresenting the clip, using it as alleged evidence that Harris was Montel’s “side piece” — a term used to describe a person, typically a woman, who has a sexual relationship with a man in a monogamous relationship.

Williams addressed the false claims in an X post on Monday, writing in reference to the Inside Edition clip, “as most of you know, that is my daughter to my right.” Getty Images photos from the Los Angeles gala identify the women as Harris and Ashley Williams.

In 2019, Williams described his relationship with Harris in a post on X, then known as Twitter.

“@KamalaHarris and I briefly dated about 20 years ago when we were both single,” he wrote in an X post at the time. “So what? I have great respect for Sen. Harris. I have to wonder if the same stories about her dating history would have been written if she were a male candidate?”

CLAIM: Harris promised to inflict the “vengeance of a nation” on Trump supporters.

THE FACTS: A fabricated quote attributed to Harris is spreading online five years after it first surfaced.

In the quote, Harris supposedly promises that if Trump is defeated in 2020, Trump supporters will be targeted by the federal government: “Once Trump’s gone and we have regained our rightful place in the White House, look out if you supported him and endorsed his actions, because we’ll be coming for you next. You will feel the vengeance of a nation.”

The quote was shared again on social media this week. One post on X containing an image of the quote was shared more than 22,000 times as of Monday afternoon.

The remarks didn’t come from Harris , but from a satirical article published online in August 2019. Shortly after, Trump supporters like musician Ted Nugent reposted the comments without noting they were fake.

CLAIM: A video shows Harris saying in a speech: “Today is today. And yesterday was today yesterday. Tomorrow will be today tomorrow. So live today, so the future today will be as the past today as it is tomorrow.”

THE FACTS: Harris never said this. Footage from a 2023 rally on reproductive rights at Howard University, her alma mater, was altered to make it seem as though she did.

In the days after Harris headlined the Washington rally, Republicans mocked a real clip of her speech, with one critic dubbing her remarks a “word salad,” the AP reported at the time .

Harris says in the clip: “So I think it’s very important — as you have heard from so many incredible leaders — for us, at every moment in time, and certainly this one, to see the moment in time in which we exist and are present, and to be able to contextualize it, to understand where we exist in the history and in the moment as it relates not only to the past, but the future.”

NARAL Pro-Choice America, an abortion rights nonprofit whose president also spoke at the rally, livestreamed the original footage. It shows Harris making the “moment in time” remark, but not the “today is today” comment.

The White House’s transcript of Harris’ remarks also does not include the statement from the altered video. Harris’ appearance at the event came the same day that Biden announced their reelection bid .

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck .

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4 takeaways from President Biden’s Oval Office address

Domenico Montanaro

President Biden speaks during an address to the nation about his decision to not seek reelection in the Oval Office at the White House on Wednesday. Evan Vucci/Pool/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

For the latest on race for president, head to NPR's Election 2024 page.

It’s not often that a politician takes a step back.

They are often their own biggest champions. But in rare cases, when the writing is on the wall, because of age, health — or politics, they do.

In an address to the nation from the Oval Office Wednesday night, President Biden said he will serve out his term as president, noting there are still things he wants to accomplish. But he explained that he is not seeking reelection, in part, because he wants to “pass the torch to a new generation.”

Here are four takeaways from what Biden had to say:

1. Biden tried to send the message that no one person is bigger than the country — and that what America stands for is at stake.

“Nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy,” Biden said. “That includes personal ambition.”

It was a remarkable statement for Biden, 81, who has held public office for more than half a century and ran for president multiple times — unsuccessfully until Donald Trump came along — and was ushered into office at 78 years old, the oldest person ever to be elected president.

Biden's brand was overcoming obstacles. But this one, he couldn't beat

Biden invoked past presidents — Abraham Lincoln, he said, urged Americans to “reject malice;” Franklin Delano Roosevelt implored the country to “reject fear.” He cited George Washington, who, by stepping aside after two terms despite his popularity, “showed us presidents are not kings.”

“I revere this office,” Biden said, “but I love my country more. It's been the honor of my life to serve as your president, but in the defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think it's more important than any title.”

In other words, Vice President Harris gives those who see former President Trump as an existential threat to that democracy the best chance to win because of Biden’s diminished capabilities to prosecute the case against him.

It's a case that Biden sees as necessary for someone to make effectively, considering Trump's unwillingness to accept the results of the 2020 election and his refusal to agree to accept the results of the upcoming election.

6 political takeaways from Biden's decision to step aside

In Washington’s farewell address on Sept. 19, 1796, he also warned that “cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”

“The great thing about America is,” Biden said, “here, kings and dictators do not rule; the people do.”

Biden and others see that foundational American principle as lost on someone like Trump, who, when he visited Mount Vernon, Washington’s estate in Virginia, in 2019 with French President Emmanuel Macron, said of the nation’s first president, per Politico :

“If he was smart, he would’ve put his name on it. You’ve got to put your name on stuff or no one remembers you.”

2. Biden desperately wants to be seen as a uniter, but that’s been a struggle for him as president — and maybe one of his biggest personal disappointments.

President Joe Biden pauses before he addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Wednesday about his decision to drop his Democratic presidential reelection bid. Evan Vucci/Pool/via AP hide caption

The president cited the need for unity among Americans multiple times:

“America is going to have to choose between moving forward or backward, between hope and hate, between unity and division.” “In this moment, we can see those we disagree with not as enemies, but as fellow Americans.” “The sacred cause of this country is larger than any one of us, and those of us who cherish that cause … a cause of American democracy itself, [we] must unite to protect it.” “So I've decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That's the best way to unite our nation.” “Let's act together, preserve our democracy.”

The idea of uniting the country is something Biden ran on in 2020. But it hasn’t worked out that way. He’s been sharply criticized by the right and views of him — in this hyperpolarized environment where people get their information largely from sources that reinforce their previously held beliefs — are as partisan as any president before him, including Trump.

Just 43% said they had a favorable view of Biden, according to an NPR/PBS News/Marist poll taken before the debate between him and Trump. That included just 38% of independents and only 10% of Republicans.

3. This is the start of a review of Biden’s legacy — and that views of it may take a long time to set in.

Biden defended his legacy and laid out what he believes he’s accomplished and what he still hopes to do.

“I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America's future, all merited a second term,” he said, “but nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition.”

Poll: Presidential race hits a reset with Harris vs. Trump

The latest NPR poll , taken this week after Biden said he would not continue to run for reelection, tested what people think of his presidency. It showed most, right now, are unimpressed.

Despite the record of legislative accomplishments Biden cited, only slightly more than a quarter of respondents said he would be remembered as an above average president or one of the best presidents in U.S. history. Half said he would be remembered as below average or one of the worst.

Those views can change with time, especially when a president is no longer in the political arena. President Obama’s favorability, for example, has improved since leaving office and views of his signature legislative achievement, the Affordable Care Act, have hit record highs.

A 2022 survey of historians found Biden rated as the 19th best president of the 46 that have served. Trump was in the bottom five at No. 43. But, at this point, Americans overall, feel differently.

4. After seeing Harris for a few days, the contrast with Biden is clear.

Vice President Harris speaks to supporters during a campaign rally at West Allis Central High School on Tuesday in West Allis, Wis. Jim Vondruska/Getty Images hide caption

Biden could have made the determination years ago, after saying he would be a “transitional” president during the 2020 election, that he would not run for reelection.

But the realities of his personal limitations after his dismal debate performance last month, and how his political support had cratered in swing states led to this moment.

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For years now, Democrats have been holding their breath with every public appearance he made. They crossed their fingers that he would acquit himself at least decently well, but they knew one bad speech, interview or… debate… could sink his — and their party’s — chances to hold onto the White House.

After watching Harris' first couple of days of campaigning, from her first speech before staffers to her first official campaign rally in Wisconsin, Democrats have been breathing a bit easier.

She has spoken clearly and coherently, and there has been energy from the grassroots. Whether that lasts or if it resonates with swing voters is still to be decided.

Biden didn’t explicitly lay out Wednesday night why he stepped aside, but watching what was an, at times, halting address, the contrast was like night and day.

It was very much a moment in history with a president, who appeared in many ways, to be delivering something of his own farewell. He was recognizing he cannot be as effective a campaigner as he would have liked, so he is taking a step back from the public eye, handing over the reins of the campaign to his vice president for the next 103 critical days in American democracy.

• election 2024