Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda met as pen
pals in 1997 and are still best friends today. Caitlin, an ER
nurse, lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and young
daughters. Martin currently lives in New York. He has dual degrees
in mathematics and economics from Villanova University and an MBA
in finance from Duke University.
Liz Welch is an award-winning journalist and memoirist whose
critically acclaimed first book, The Kids Are All Right,
co-authored with her sister Diana Welch, won an ALA Alex Award. Her
stories have appeared in the New York Times, Parade, Life,
Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Glamour, Real Simple, Self, Marie Claire, and
other publications.
Praise for I Will Always Write Back: An Indiebound Bestseller
An Amazon Big Spring Book Selection 2015
* "Sensitively and candidly demonstrating how small actions can
result in enormous change, this memoir of two families'
transformation through the commitment and affection of
long-distance friends will humble and inspire."--Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
"A well-written, accessible story that will open Western
adolescents' eyes to life in developing countries. Told in the
first person, with chapters alternating between Caitlin's and
Martin's points of view, this title effectively conveys both of
these young people's perspectives...a strong and inspiring
story...and an eye-opening look at life in another
culture."--SLJ
"An inspirational story...eye-opening."--The Bulletin
"Caitlin and Martin seemed to have nothing in common--except a
curiosity about the world outside their own and a willingness to
reach out to each other. With a lot of postage and a lot more hope,
these two pen pals changed each other's lives and the lives of
everyone who knew them. An inspiring story that will change your
life, too."--Patricia McCormick, author of the National Book Award
finalist Sold
"The remarkable tenacity of these two souls pulled like magnets
across the world by their opposite polarities - one committed to
helping, the other to surviving - is deeply affecting...It's quite
a little miracle of unexpected genuineness."--New York Times Book
Review
"This compelling story of an unlikely friendship across continents
will quiet your inner skeptic and inspire you to take a chance.
Moving and uplifting."
--Award-winning author and journalist Peter Godwin
"This heart-warming memoir will inspire readers to open their eyes
to other cultures and realize that even the smallest of gestures
can be important."--School Library Connection
![]() |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
![]() |