91 pages • 3 hours read
Caitlin Alifirenka, Liz Welch, Martin GandaI Will Always Write Back
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | YA | Published in 2015A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
During Reading
Reading Questions & Paired Texts
Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.
Part 1 (September 1997-October 1998)
Reading Check
1. When Caitlin arrives home from school, her mother tells her that the country of Zimbabwe used to be named what?
2. Which group is Martin in when he becomes one of ten students who receives a letter from a pen pal in the US?
3. Which “generous gift” surprises Martin’s mother that Caitlin sends to Martin in the mail?
Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. Why is it difficult for Martin to reciprocate sharing a photograph with Caitlin? What does this say about the larger differences between their lives?
2. As Caitlin and Martin’s friendship progresses, there are increasing political and economic tensions across the world. How do these hardships affect Caitlin and Martin differently?
Paired Resource
“Timeline – Key Dates in Zimbabwe’s History”
- Beginning in the 1960s, this timeline by the news organization Reuters charts the key moments in Zimbabwe’s modern history.
- This information connects to the theme of Overcoming Privilege.
- Which events during the late 1990s and early 2000s are reflected in I Will Always Write Back?
Part 2 (December 1998-December 1999)
Reading Check
1. What beloved family possession does Martin’s father give up the day before Christmas in order to pay a debt?
2. Which broadcast network informs Caitlin in February 1999 about Zimbabwe’s failing economy and growing food crisis?
3. When Caitlin receives a letter from Martin in May 1999, she is astonished to see that it is written on what material?
Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. In her December 1998 entry, Caitlin realizes that Martin avoids talking about his own life to protect her. What is he protecting her from?
2. In “Martin–April 1999,” what drastic measures does Simba take when he is not given enough food?
Part 3 (January 2000-December 2000)
Reading Check
1. What special meal do Martin and his family eat on Christmas, with Caitlin’s family’s support?
2. What is contained in the box that Caitlin and her mother send to Martin in January 2000?
3. Where is the exchange student Stephie, whom Caitlin houses in March 2000, from?
Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. According to her February 2000 entry, how does wealth inform popularity at Caitlin’s high school?
2. How does Caitlin’s mother emerge as a pivotal figure in helping support Martin’s family?
Paired Resource
- In this brief video, the United Nation explains what a monsoon is and how it affects the lives and livelihood of vulnerable populations.
- This information connects to the theme of Overcoming Privilege.
- How can a monsoon affect the economy in different parts of the world? Where is this effect reflected in the descriptions of Martin’s life?
Part 4 (January 2001-June 2002)
Reading Check
1. Why does Caitlin send Martin a care package that contains a tarp, buckets, and rain purification tablets in January 2001?
2. What profession does Martin wish to enter after graduating from university?
3. What illness is Martin’s mother struggling with when he returns home from school in July 2001?
Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. How does Caitlin’s romantic relationship with Damon show the evolution and maturation of her character?
2. What important news does Mr. Muzawazi give Martin in April 2001 when he calls him into his office?
Paired Resource
“Students from Sub-Saharan African Nations at US Colleges and Universities, 2020-21”
- The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education discusses the Institute for International Education’s 2021 Open Doors report, which found that students from sub-Saharan Africa made up 4.3% of the 1,075,496 foreign students at US colleges and universities.
- This information connects to the theme of overcoming Disparities in Access to Education.
- What are some of the general barriers that students from Zimbabwe and other regions from sub-Saharan Africa face when attempting to study in the US?
Part 5 (August 2002-April 2003)
Reading Check
1. What is the first institution Caitlin’s mother reaches out to when she begins contacting colleges that can possibly support Martin?
2. What chain restaurant does Caitlin take Wallace to in Philadelphia to eat American food for the first time?
3. What score does Martin get on the SAT?
Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. Damon’s temperament begins to change in September 2002, when Caitlin starts her dual-degree program. How does he respond to her educational pursuits?
2. Why does Wallace struggle to adjust to college life? How do Caitlin and her family help him cope?
Paired Resource
“Martin Ganda I Will Always Write Back, How One Letter Changed Two Lives”
- In this 44-minute video, Martin makes an in-person appearance to discuss the book. At the 22:53 mark, he speaks about the importance of his relationship with Caitlin.
- This information connects to the theme of The Possibilities of Cross-Cultural Connection.
- What is it about the one-on-one relationship with Caitlin that Martin deems so important? What does he mean when he says learning about life in Pennsylvania from Caitlin was better than reading about it online?
Part 6 (April 2003-October 2015)
Reading Check
1. Which celebrities does Caitlin’s mom reach out to for help in her quest to help Martin gain admission to an American college?
2. Why is Martin surprised to learn that Rebecca is white when he reaches the American embassy in May 2003?
3. Why is Martin’s flight delayed, according to a traditional Zimbabwean prophet?
Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. How does the power of belief manifest in Martin’s college admission process?
2. In the book’s final message, Caitlin imparts the importance of small acts of kindness. What example does she cite, and what effect does it have?
Recommended Next Reads
Same Sun Here by Neela Vaswani and Silas House
- This work of fiction alternates between the voices of two 12-year-olds: Meena, a young Indian girl who lives in New York City, and River, a boy who lives with his grandmother in rural Kentucky.
- Through their pen pal relationship, Meena and River explore the power and The Possibilities of Cross-Cultural Connection.
- Shared topics include friendship and cultural differences.
- Same Sun Here on SuperSummary.com
The Life You Can Save by Peter Singer
- Princeton philosopher and ethicist Peter Singer writes a brief treatise on how it is an obligation of affluent communities to help those experiencing extreme poverty.
- This title brings the themes of Overcoming Privilege and alleviating Disparities in Access to Education into sharp focus, calling for people like Caitlin to step forward and do their part to create change on a global scale.
- Shared topics include morality and generosity.
- The Life You Can Save on SuperSummary.com
Reading Questions Answer Key
Part 1 (September 1997-October 1998)
Reading Check
1. Rhodesia (“Caitlin–September 1997”)
2. Group One, which is composed of the top performing students (“Martin–October 1997”)
3. A US dollar bill (“Martin–April 1998”)
Short Answer
1. Photographs are not easy to come by in Zimbabwe; they are expensive, and Martin is unsure he can afford one. Meanwhile, Caitlin, having grown up in America, does not realize that it might be difficult for someone to get a photograph. This highlights the major disparities between their resources and shows that Caitlin lacks cultural awareness. (“Martin–November 1997”)
2. The US (and, by extension, Caitlin) is afforded some protection from the disasters within the country and around the world, but Martin and his family are vulnerable to the struggles in Zimbabwe: Bombings and job loss at the paper mill where Martin’s father works both directly affect Martin’s life. (“Martin–June 1998”-“Martin–October 1998”)
Part 2 (December 1998-December 1999)
Reading Check
1. The family stereo (“Martin–January 1999”)
2. The BBC (“Caitlin–February 1999”)
3. An old ice cream wrapper (“Caitlin–May 1999”)
Short Answer
1. Martin avoids talking about his life to spare Caitlin from the intense hardships he experiences on a daily basis. She speaks to him about trivial matters (fights with her friends, trouble in school), while he faces danger to his health and safety. (“Caitlin–December 1998”)
2. Due to the family’s dire economic circumstances, Martin’s parents are not able to properly feed their children. His brother Simba resorts to bullying other students for food as a result, which humiliates the family. (“Martin–April 1999”)
Part 3 (January 2000-December 2000)
Reading Check
1. Chicken (“Martin–January 2000”)
2. Candy, a Walkman, a cassette for Ricky Martin’s “La Vida Loca,” and shoes. (“Martin–January 2000”)
3. Germany (“Caitlin–March 2000”)
Short Answer
1. Money gives popular students access to objects and events that make them “cool.” For example, Marie’s mother buys NSYNC tickets for her and several of the popular girls in an effort to ingratiate Marie, who is considered “nerdy,” into a cooler crowd. (“Caitlin–February 2000”)
2. As a parent and educator, Caitlin’s mother has experience in advocating for others; this helps her champion Martin to his school’s headmaster. As an American, Caitlin’s mother has relative wealth—in terms of money and resources—which helps her support Martin’s family. (“Martin–January 2000”-“Caitlin–February 2000”)
Part 4 (January 2001-June 2002)
Reading Check
1. So Martin and his family can collect drinking water during monsoons (“Caitlin—December 2000”)
2. He wants to practice medicine as a doctor (“Caitlin–April 2001”)
3. Malaria (“Martin–July 2001”)
Short Answer
1. When Caitlin meets Damon, she boldly approaches him and introduces herself, showing self-confidence. Damon is unlike the other boys she has dated. He is more sensitive and understanding, partially due to the fact that he has a dad with multiple sclerosis. The fact that she is making better choices in terms of who she associates with shows that she is maturing. (“Caitlin–March 2001”)
2. Mr. Muzawazi tells Martin that he has received a scholarship from the Delta Corporation and that this corporation will sponsor two years of Martin’s schooling at Marist Brothers. The news comes with perfect timing, since Martin was late on paying his tuition. (“Martin–April 2001”)
Part 5 (August 2002-April 2003)
Reading Check
1. Gwynedd Mercy (“Caitlin–August 2002”)
2. The Hard Rock Café (“Caitlin–October 2002”)
3. 1100 (“Caitlin–January 2003”)
Short Answer
1. Damon disapproves of her dual-degree program; he thinks she should stop attending college and work as a waitress instead. He also calls Caitlin several times in a row; when she finally picks up, he criticizes her for always studying. (“Caitlin–September 2002”)
2. Wallace is struggling to adjust to college life because he is used to studying on the weekends, and his classmates at Temple prefer partying. Caitlin and her family invite him to Thanksgiving and offer to let him stay with them at their family home until his housing conditions improve. (“Caitlin–November 2002”)
Part 6 (April 2003-October 2015)
Reading Check
1. Oprah, Bill Gates, and Bill Cosby (“Caitlin–April 2003”)
2. Because she spoke Shona fluently (“Martin–May 2003”)
3. The prophet says that Martin’s aunt put a hex on him (“Martin–August 2003”)
Short Answer
1. After so many rejections and partial scholarships, Caitlin and her mother begin to lose faith that Martin will be able to attend an American university with full financial aid. They pray that Martin’s fate will change and appeal to the president of Villanova with hope for a full-ride scholarship. Their belief pays off; Martin is admitted and given a full scholarship. This same faith is also present in Martin’s general optimism about his future educational prospects. (“Caitlin–April 2003”-“Caitlin–July 2003”)
2. Caitlin cites her initial connection with Martin as an example of how compassion can transform people’s lives. Her statement that “kindness is contagious” suggests that a small act when she was in 7th grade (writing to a pen pal) set off a chain reaction that eventually inspired her, her family, and an international audience to come to Martin’s aid. (“Caitlin–August 15, 2003-“Caitlin–October 2015”)
