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I Will Always Write Back

How One Letter Changed Two Lives

By Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda with Liz Welch

This dual memoir tells the true story of an American girl and a boy from Zimbabwe and the letter that changed both of their lives forever. From the Amazon website: “It started as an assignment in September 1997. . . . Everyone in Caitlin’s class wrote to an unknown student 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 memoir, with an updated epilogue for this edition, Caitlin and Martin recount how they became best friends . . . and better people . . . through their long-distance exchange.”

Martin immediately wrote back and told Caitlin about himself; the school paid for the stamps for the students’ first letters. In her reply, Caitlin sent him a photo of herself. Martin could not believe that Caitlin had sent him something so precious—photos were quite expensive in Zimbabwe. Then Martin turned the letter over and was alarmed that Caitlin wanted a photo of him. He didn’t even have enough money for a stamp to send her a letter. He promised her the only thing that he felt he could promise; he promised, “I will always write back.”

The differences in how they lived were dramatic, but over the years Caitlin and Martin developed a real bond and shared much about the ways they lived. Martin’s goal was to survive. Caitlin wanted to do all that she could to help him succeed. Eventually with the help of Caitlin’s family, Martin came to the United States for college, and they finally met in person.

This book is so engaging that it is hard to put down. If you want to experience a true story about two people from dramatically different backgrounds who overcome significant challenges to achieve what each of them wants, you won’t be disappointed. The photos included in the book make their story even more compelling, and you can even follow Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda on Facebook if you wish.

—Marilynne Wilander