I am not sure what initially drew me to this book. It was on a suggested young reader book list, but it was the title that grabbed my interest.. I guess it was the title and the fact that it made me think about how, as a kid, It also brought back memories on how I loved to write and receive letters when I was very young. Writing was the major form of communication back then and over the years I had pen pals just like Martin and Caitlin.
The book is about contrast and how a single action can unknowingly change lives forever. Caitlin is a typical teen from Pennsylvania who lives in a comfortable neighborhood. Martin on the other hand, comes from a struggling community in Zimbabwe. Their lives couldn't be more different.
One day their assignment is to write to a pen pal. For Caitlin, the assignment seems like a fun chance to connect with someone from another country. For Martin, it’s an honor. They make a connection by talking about their lives. Something clicks. As Caitlin continues reading his letters, she begins to see beyond the surface and understand the reality of Martin’s life.
They start sending each other little gifts. For Martin it is a sacrifice. Even buying stamps to send the letters is a significant strain on the family budget. But this connection is so important to him that he and his family are willing to do it. In one letter Caitlin encloses a twenty dollar bill. Little did she know how important this gift would be to him and his family. Every time she sent even a small amount of cash it literally saved, he and his family from disaster. At the time Zimbabwe was going through a crisis.
She had no idea that her small gifts, even just a twenty-dollar bill, would make an enormous difference sometimes saving Martin’s family from crisis and making a difference in two families.
This is a great read for teens and adults alike.
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