Caitlin Alifirenka's I Will Always Write Back

You may not think that talking to someone can lead to any type of difference, but that is simply not true. In the novel I Will Always Write Back, the two authors, Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda, have a correspondence that spanned six years, and transformed both of their lives. It led them to make choices they might not have made without their friendship and letters. Communication with others can lead to change. Martin had always lived in poverty, and probably never expected to have this communication with someone in America. But luckily, he was able to. Throughout the book, we see Martin talking about his situation, but not enough to make her really understand what he is going through. The text states, “While there was so much more I could have said—about the crisis, about how hard it was to save money for stamps, about how hard

His dad loses his job, Martin is kicked out of school, money is scarce, food is hard to get, and no matter how much he wanted to, he simply could not get a letter to Caitlin. After a few months of not writing, he finally saved enough money to buy stamps, but he had nothing to write about. Until he found an ice-cream wrapper. The text says, “I decided to tell Caitlin the truth about why I had not been in touch. And I prayed that she would understand.” This was the communication needed for a change to happen. Martin could never have expected the huge difference that letter would make. In Caitlin’s next letter, he receives a twenty-dollar bill, and it was enough to get him back to school. Caitlin continues to help him the best way she can, and Martin continues to open up about his situation. According to the text, “Everyone was so happy—but none as happy as I. My future was looking bright for the first time—and I had Caitlin to thank.” Due to their communication and friendship, Matin was able to pursue a career in the U.S., and change his life for the