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

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

By Martin Ganda, Caitlin Alifirenka

30 ratings 35 reviews 24 followers
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 4 - 8Grades 3 - 6n/a5.682879
The true story of an all-American girl and a boy from 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.

Martin was lucky to even receive a pen-pal letter. There were only ten letters, and fifty 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 you to look beyond your own life and wonder about the world at large and your place in it.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9780316241335
ISBN-10: 0316241334
Published on 5/3/2016
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 416

Book Reviews (38)

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I have finished this book 10 times and i find so intresting that i don't think i will ever get bored with this book i recommend this book to anyone its my favorite book

This story is about how 2 pen pals all the way across thw world and help each other out and go through hard times together. This book is heart touching and the sacrifices Caitlin makes are unimaginable.

I will always write back is a book about a american girl and a indian boy who write letters to each other this book is soo good

Overall, I loved this book. It would be amazing to have a friend all the way across the ocean, but still be able to communicate. I thought it was amazing that she kept his family alive and fed, just by sending him her baby-sitting money. I would definitely recommend this book for ages 11-16.

It all started with the names of the countries on the blackboard. Zimbabwe sounded exotic and different to Caitlin. She was the only one to raise her hand and ask for a pen pal from there. Martin was in a class of fifty with only one pen pal letter from America. Good thing he was at the top of his class or else he wouldn't have had a chance to get the letter at all. Told through the letters and their personal recounts Caitlin and Martin tell a beautiful story of how one letter changed two lives forever.

For a project Caitlin Alifirenka was told to pick a country and send a letter to to that country. Caitlin chose Zimbabwe and the person who recieved the letter was Martin Ganda. Martin came from a poor family and barely had enough money to stay in school. Because Zimbabwean money is worth less that American money Caitlin sends Martin money and helps him stay in school because he is a very smart student. Martin then passes all his tests and is able to attend a university-like school and then gets a scholarship to a college in America.

This book is incredible and the fact that is a true story makes it even better. I was drawn in from the very first sentence and stayed up until 10 o'clock just to finish it. It was almost unbelievable that in such conditions anyone could come top of the class every year but once and go on to such a good school Martin is absolutely amazing and Caitlin is an awesome person. I would recommend this book for year 6 to year 10. please read this book.

I Will Always Write Back is the true story of an ordinary American girl and a boy from Zimbabwe who became pen pals. It first started when Caitlin was assigned to write a pen pal to an international student. On the other hand Martin was lucky to even receive a letter, and only got one because he was in the top of his class. After just one letter, Martin and Caitlin kept writing to each other again, until they became best friends over their years, even calling each other brother and sister. But then when Caitlin realizes what the living conditions are like for Martin she takes action. She starts sending babysitting to Martin, and helps his family. But when things get even worse for Martin, she and her family becomes the support system for their new family in Africa. This was an amazing and inspiring story about how two lives changed. I also really liked that it was a dual memoir-that means it was told from both sides both martin and Caitlin. I recommend this book to people who like to read memoirs and about pen pal relationships. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

This is a really thought provoking story about pen pals Caitlin Alifrenka, and Martin Ganda. It's a non-fiction book, but it reads like a really good fiction book. How it started, is that Caitlin got a school pen pal from Zimbabwe. This is Martin. They write back and forth for some time, and Caitlin realizes her positive friend is living a hard life. His family can barely afford many things she takes for granted, like bread, milk, chicken, and even school. How can she help her friend when his country is going through hard times?

I love this book so much! It was really really really good and I totally recommend it to any one!!!!!! Even though I already read it I still picked it as one of my prizes!!

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