It started as an assignment. Caitlin had never even heard of Zimbabwe when everyone in her class was told to write a letter to an unknown student in a distant place. Excited for the first time about homework, she went home that night and wrote about her favorite color and what sports she played, and asked her mystery pen-pal about life in Zimbabwe.

Martin had never heard of Pennsylvania when he read Caitlin's letter. He was lucky to even receive a pen-pal letter--his class only received ten letters for fifty kids! But as the top student, he got the first one. He wrote Caitlin back, talking about his siblings and soccer and saying he hoped she wrote again.

These letters were 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 inspiring long-distance exchange.

Praise for I Will Always Write Back
An inspiring story that will change your life, too. ―Patricia McCormick, author of the National Book Award finalist Sold
A little miracle of unexpected genuineness. ―New York Times Book Review
Moving and uplifting. ―Award-winning author and journalist Peter Godwin

At the age of 14 years old, Roy found himself homeless due to domestic violence. He moved from house to house to survive. With only a duffle bag to call home, he was at the mercy of the streets. After navigating his way to college, Roy swore to never return to that life again. However, one dream would change it all.

This riveting memoir journeys through Roy's decision to live homeless once again, but this time, Homeless by Choice, with a mission to inspire youth to never give up on life, their dreams and understand the power of higher education. This journey would lead him to uncover the hidden issues that plague America's youth. Surprised by what he finds, Roy is forced to face his own childhood and the demons that have haunted him for years.

Just because you have a house doesn't mean you have a home. Are you homeless by choice?

Punching Bag is the compelling true story of a high school career defined by poverty and punctuated by outbreaks of domestic abuse. Rex Ogle, who brilliantly mapped his experience of hunger in Free Lunch, here describes his struggle to survive; reflects on his complex, often paradoxical relationship with his passionate, fierce mother; and charts the trajectory of his stepdad's anger. Hovering over Rex's story is the talismanic presence of his unborn baby sister.

Through it all, Rex threads moments of grace and humor that act as beacons of light in the darkness. Compulsively readable, beautifully crafted, and authentically told, Punching Bag is a remarkable memoir about one teenager's cycle of violence, blame, and attempts to forgive his parents--and himself.

At the age of 14 years old, Roy found himself homeless due to domestic violence. He moved from house to house to survive. With only a duffle bag to call home, he was at the mercy of the streets. After navigating his way to college, Roy swore to never return to that life again. However, one dream would change it all.

This riveting memoir journeys through his decision to live homeless once again, but this time, Homeless by Choice, with a mission to inspire youth to never give up on life, their dreams and understand the power of higher education. This journey would lead him to uncover the hidden issues that plague America's youth. Surprised by what he finds, Roy is forced to face his own childhood and the demons that have haunted him for years.

Just because you have a house doesn't mean you have a home.

In a world where silence often shrouds the truth, Callie's Story dares to break that silence. This gripping narrative follows the harrowing journey of Callie, a young girl navigating the complexities of trauma, loss, and the search for safety in a world that seems to conspire against her. From the moment she loses her father at a tender age to her turbulent life with a stepfather who becomes a source of pain, Callie's experiences resonate with the struggles many face but few openly discuss.

As we delve into Callie's life, we witness her evolution from a frightened child into a resilient survivor. Her story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity and the profound impact of friendship, courage, and hope. The bond she forms with Keishandra becomes a pivotal turning point, showcasing the power of connection in their darkest moments.

This book is more than just a tale of survival; it is a call to action. It seeks to illuminate the stark realities of human trafficking and abuse, urging readers to recognize and confront the harsh truths that often lie hidden. Through Callie's eyes, we experience the raw emotions of fear, confusion, and ultimately, the quest for freedom.

In sharing Callie's journey, the author aims to foster conversations around these difficult topics, encouraging understanding and awareness. It is a reminder that while the world can be a dark place, there is always a glimmer of hope, a chance for healing, and the possibility of a new beginning.

Introduction de l'auteur: Naviguer dans les profondeurs de l'esprit
Bienvenue dans un voyage qui transcende l'ordinaire et s'aventure dans le paysage extraordinaire de l'expérience humaine.
Mon parcours en tant qu'auteur a commencé dans l'ombre de la dépression et de l'anxiété, où j'ai démêlé les complexités de la psyché humaine. À travers l'introspection et le pouvoir transformateur de la poésie, j'ai trouvé mon chemin hors du labyrinthe de mon propre esprit, offrant aux lecteurs un chemin unique vers la compréhension et la guérison. Rejoignez-moi dans Anxiety and Depression: Poems from the Depths of the Soul alors que nous explorons l'interaction profonde des émotions, confrontons l'obscurité et l'illuminons avec des vers introspectifs, embarquant finalement dans un voyage de découverte de soi et de résilience.

Introduction de l'auteur: Déverrouiller les profondeurs de l'esprit
Imaginez plonger dans les eaux inexplorées de la psyché humaine, explorer les cavernes cachées de l'âme et déchiffrer le langage cryptique des émotions. C'est là que mon parcours en tant qu'auteur a réellement commencé - non dans la lumière, mais dans les profondeurs ombragées de la dépression et de l'anxiété. Pendant des années, je me suis retrouvé pris dans la toile complexe de ces deux adversaires redoutables, piégé dans une lutte incessante pour comprendre les murmures de ma propre pensée. C'était un voyage labyrinthique, où l'obscurité tenait la main du désespoir et l'anxiété peignait des labyrinthes complexes de doute. Mais au sein de ce labyrinthe, j'ai découvert le pouvoir de l'introspection et la magie curative des mots. J'ai appris que les émotions qui semblaient autrefois être des tempêtes turbulentes pouvaient être transformées en poésie, chaque vers un canot de sauvetage naviguant sur la mer tumultueuse de l'âme. Ces poèmes sont devenus ma bouée de sauvetage, une manière de naviguer dans les eaux traîtres de mes propres pensées, et finalement, un chemin vers la lumière. À travers ce livre, Anxiety and Depression: Poems from the Depths of the Soul, je vous invite à me rejoindre dans ce voyage unique. C'est un voyage qui transcende l'ordinaire et s'aventure dans le paysage extraordinaire de l'expérience humaine. Ensemble, nous explorerons l'interaction complexe des émotions, affronterons l'obscurité intérieure et l'illuminerons avec le pouvoir poétique de l'introspection. En tournant les pages, vous découvrirez non seulement les profondeurs de mes propres luttes, mais aussi la résilience de l'esprit humain. J'espère que ces mots résonneront en vous, vous apporteront du réconfort dans vos propres moments d'obscurité et vous inspireront à affronter et à conquérir la tempête émotionnelle intérieure.

Ce que vous trouverez dans ce livre:
Découvrez l'univers émotionnel: Comme si vous voyageiez à travers un cosmos de sentiments, vous explorerez les profondeurs et les hauteurs des émotions humaines, révélant de manière unique la complexité de l'expérience de l'anxiété et de la dépression.
Vers comme des plumes d'oiseau: Les poèmes sont comme les plumes d'un oiseau s'enfonçant profondément dans l'âme, vous enveloppant dans la beauté et la grâce des mots. Chaque vers vous portera doucement à travers une gamme d'émotions.
Le théâtre des émotions humaines: Ce livre est un théâtre des émotions humaines, avec des actes dramatiques d'anxiété et de dépression, ainsi que des moments de lumière et de transformation. Vous aurez l'impression d'être sur scène, vivant chaque mot.
Naviguer à travers les vagues tumultueuses de la guérison: Les mots et les vers vous guideront à travers une navigation tumultueuse de la guérison intérieure, vous offrant des outils pour trouver votre équilibre et votre paix.