post 6

[Megan]

I really enjoyed this book mostly because I liked the duel perspective aspect. I have read many books with this style of writing and I think its a way to keep me engaged longer because of the constant change. This book reminded me a lot of when I was younger and when I would write letters to friends. As a kid my cousin and I would send each others letters back and forth as well as I have had a pen pal before with a stranger twice as a kid so I find this kind of fun. I really enjoyed reading about Caitlin and Martin through out the things going on within their lives. I think it can be eye opening for kids to understand and grasp the concept that not every one lives the same lifestyle as them. With Martin living in Zimbabwe and being of a lower class makes things difficult on him however their friendship remains unchanged. One of my favorite parts is when Martin does everything in his power to afford the postage stamp to always write back. Martin and Caitlin maintain a friendship and getting to know one another through writing and I think that can be a tool teachers can use in their classrooms. In elementary school my class was pen pals with a classroom from the next town over. Over the year we wrote letters to our partners back and forth getting to know them until finally we went as a field trip and met up with them and had lunch with them. It was a neat experience that I will always remember and I thought about that while reading this book. Caitlin and Martin share close relations and stories with one another because sometimes talking to a stranger can be the easiest from of talking about your life or feelings. This can be a great outlook for kids to talk to others and get to know someone while exploring reading and writing.