Novel Pen Pal Paper

Dear Leah Weiczynkowski,


My name is Caitlin J. and this summer I enjoyed reading your book. This was about you and your dad’s journey together to reach your goal. Her goal to play for the under eighteen team which will lead her to the World Cup and the Olympics. Over the summer I trained for soccer like you, but mine was only for high school where as yours was for a much bigger league. Either way it is intense. I also went to Hershey Park in Pennsylvania where I go every year with my friend, her family, and other families. There is a picture of me and my friend Curtis on the right. I went to a soccer camp in Towson. This was my first year there and it was great. However, I didn’t get to go anywhere special because I swim for the Aberdeen Penguins for the summer and had to train and get in shape for soccer.

Going for the Record was a pretty good book and I enjoyed reading it this summer. I felt that you did a really good job dealing with your dad’s cancer. Dealing with quitting soccer which you have devoted your whole life to was a pretty big deal to me. It left you with a big emptiness which trying to fill was pretty difficult.

Julie A. Swanson’s writing style is definitely realistic. Going out for a soccer team and making it; that’s pretty realistic I think. The way the book is written makes it easy to be read. There are not a lot of difficult words. I felt that you were realistic to me, the reader.

Why did you stop talking to Clay? I mean he was there for you he could have helped you get through your loss. He was such a sweet boy to you. So what if he likes you? That just means that he would do anything for you just to make you happy. Sweet boys are hard to find I was happy when he kept trying even though you just kept pushing him away even more. I’m glad you came to your senses it made the book even more enjoyable.

The social issue in this book was pancreatic cancer. The internet would be a good way to raise awareness of this issue. It could be seen all over the world. Just by word of mouth would be a good way because of course people talk and especially in class. This novel will absolutely leave me thinking more about this issue. This book really hit me about this every day issue. It really had me thinking.

Well good-bye and I wanted to say thanks for writing this book. If there are any other kids out there that read your book I hope that they will realized how big of a deal this cancer is. However, before I go I would like to give you some advice. I would tell you not to push your friends away. In desperate times you will need them in your life. Friends are really beneficial!



Sincerely,



Caitlin J.