JUNE 2018 Pick of the Month

          

  JUNE 2018 

Overview

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.



DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Talk about the wide gap between Martin's hardscrabble life in Zimbabwe and Caitlin's privileged one in the U.S.  How did two 12-year-olds from such vastly different backgrounds and expriences bridge the gap between them?

2. What do each of the two pen pals reveal about themselves as they write to one another? What dreams do each have, especially Martin?

3. How does her growing awareness of Martin's poverty affect her? In what way does the correspondence change Caitlin with regard to her American classmates?

4. What do you make of Caitlin sending a portion of her babysitting money to Martin? Was her act naive, condescending, or a genuinely inspired act of kindness?

5. What moved you most about his book? 

ACTIVITIES:

Stamp Collecting for KIDS Website:  http://www.2-clicks-stamps.com/article/stamp-collecting-for-kids.html

There is magic in postage stamps! You can travel around the world without leaving your seat. Meet important people. Learn exotic plants and animals, know different languages…and many more. All these can be yours in stamp collecting.

PEN PALs:  http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/menu_penpals.php  

REMEMBER: IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR YOUR CHILD'S CORRESPONDENCE.

Zimbabwe for Kids:  https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Zimbabwe/345821

Beginner's GUIDE to Story Telling:  https://www.mensaforkids.org/teach/lesson-plans/the-art-of-storytelling/

Letterboxing 101:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DlVAXwMnLQ

PURCHASE AT:

BARNES AND NOBLE:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-will-always-write-back-caitlin-alifirenka/1121120716?ean=9780316241335#/

AMAZON:   https://www.amazon.com/Will-Always-Write-Back-Changed/dp/0316241334/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529787419&sr=8-1&keywords=i+will+always+write+back