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

The inspiring story of a 12-year-old American girl and a boy from Zimbabwe who change each other's lives when her letter for her class's pen-pal project finds its way to him.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The true story of an all-American girl, a boy from Zimbabwe, and the letter that changed both of their lives forever.

It started as an assignment. Caitlin had never even heard of Zimbabwe when everyone in her class was told to write a letter to an unknown student in a distant place. Excited for the first time about homework, she went home that night and wrote about her favorite color and what sports she played, and asked her mystery pen-pal about life in Zimbabwe.

Martin had never heard of Pennsylvania when he read Caitlin’s letter. He was lucky to even receive a pen-pal letter—his class only received ten letters for fifty kids! But as the top student, he got the first one. He wrote Caitlin back, talking about his siblings and soccer and saying he hoped she wrote again.

These letters were 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 inspiring long-distance exchange.

Praise for I Will Always Write Back:
"An inspiring story that will change your life, too." ―Patricia McCormick, author of the National Book Award finalist Sold
"A little miracle of unexpected genuineness." ―New York Times Book Review
"Moving and uplifting." ―Award-winning author and journalist Peter Godwin