(2) YA Senior year, Filipino American teen Jay Reguero learns of his pen-pal cousin Jun's untimely death in the Philippines. Haunted by the lack of information, Jay goes to the Philippines to investigate and eventually connects Jun's death with President Duterte's (real-life) draconian war on drugs. Ribay brings this coming-of-age story to vivid life through themes of addiction, complex family dynamics, and the experiences of children of immigrants. Bib.

Reviewer: Monica Tapia Boyer | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(3) 1-3 Translated by Cathy Hirano. Illustrated by Jun Takabatake. In this friendship story from Japan, Professor Whale exchanges letters with young Wally, the grandson of a beloved fellow whale. Reminiscing about the good old days prompts the professor to resurrect the Whale Point Olympics, inviting far-flung friends (including Penguin and Giraffe from Yours Sincerely, Giraffe) to return for the fun and games. Humorous black-and-white line drawings add humor and warmth.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 4-6 Secret Cookie Club series. In their third book, the flowerpot cabin campers are back at their homes across the U.S., each dealing with their own trials. The first-person narration rotates among all the girls over the course of the school year as they keep in touch with one another via letters and packages of homemade cookies. This sweet friendship story tackles many tough issues faced by the diverse group of friends.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) 1-3 Translated by Cathy Hirano. Illustrated by Jun Takabatake. In this Japanese import, bored Giraffe sees an ad from a pelican advertising his mail-delivery service; he eagerly writes a letter for delivery to the first animal past the horizon. So begins the letters, speculations, and bloopers of Giraffe and Penguin's friendship. Takabatake's simple line drawings add humor and depth to a wonderfully fresh take on how we make friends and correct mistaken impressions.

Reviewer: Ed Spicer

(4) K-3 Unlikely pen pals Oscar, a gray ant, and Bill, a blue octopus, exchange letters and personal items over a school year. Amusing back-and-forth letters highlight their differences (location, number of legs), similarities (favorite color), and shared interests (playing table tennis, watching TV) before they ultimately meet. Spare digital illustrations are fairly static, but they cleverly incorporate the pals' accumulating gifts to each other.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(4) 1-3 Dear Molly, Dear Olive series. Illustrated by Lucy Fleming. Through emails and snail-mail, Molly and Olive (pen pals who've never met) sort through day-to-day hiccups. The girls have alternating streaks of good luck and misfortune in Magic; both face friendship problems in Trouble. The chapter books are sweet, though at times heavy-handed with their lessons. Black-and-white drawings bring the girls' misadventures to life. Discussion and writing prompts are included. Glos. Review covers the following Dear Molly, Dear Olive titles: Molly Discovers Magic and Molly Meets Trouble.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) 1-3 Dear Molly, Dear Olive series. Illustrated by Lucy Fleming. Through emails and snail-mail, Molly and Olive (pen pals who've never met) sort through day-to-day hiccups. The girls have alternating streaks of good luck and misfortune in Magic; both face friendship problems in Trouble. The chapter books are sweet, though at times heavy-handed with their lessons. Black-and-white drawings bring the girls' misadventures to life. Discussion and writing prompts are included. Glos. Review covers the following Dear Molly, Dear Olive titles: Molly Discovers Magic and Molly Meets Trouble.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Christiane Engel. Here and There are pen pals because Here can never be There, and vice versa. That is until There devises a clever plan to bring the friends together at a county fair. Both Here and There feature cheerful smiles, friendly eyes, and expressive arms on their uppercase first letters. Vivid colors and textures invite readers to linger over the whimsical illustrations.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Rodolfo Montalvo. George Slair, a boy, writes to his assigned pen pal, Blaise Dragomir, a dragon, in rhyme. They learn about commonalities (neither likes writing) and differences (Blaise doesn't like sweets). The class writing project humorously (if not subtly) models how different groups can become friends. Watercolor, acrylic-ink, and graphite illustrations in lush green hues add to the drollery.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) YA When Lily scribbles obscure song lyrics on her desk in chemistry, she doesn't expect a response. But Lily and her mysterious desk pen pal begin writing regularly and find that perhaps there's some (romantic) chemistry there as well. Despite a predictable plot, Lily's snarky voice is engaging, and it's satisfying to see this growing relationship lend maturity to her hectic high-school life.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(3) YA Sixteen-year-old Simon loves emailing Blue, an anonymous boy from school. But when another student sees the correspondence, the blossoming romance is threatened. Set in Georgia, this realistic coming-out story features a cast of unique, believable characters. Simon's humorous narrative alternates with his emails with Blue as Simon wonders, "Don't you think everyone should have to come out? Why is straight the default?"

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(4) YA With Liz Welch. Seventh grader Caitlin selects a pen pal from Zimbabwe, the most exotic place she has heard of. Caitlin and Martin correspond for six years, building a friendship and trust that widens Caitlin's world view and allows Martin to be honest about his incredible challenges. Told in alternating voices, their story would have been more compelling with stronger editing. Photos are appended.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(2) 4-6 In 1948, eleven-year-old Tate chooses country singer Hank Williams as a pen pal. It quickly becomes clear that Tate is using her letters as a therapeutic diary--and that she's an unreliable narrator. When Tate finally reveals her true circumstances (resolving underlying tension about her situation), she shows the gumption that defines her character. Deftly including historical context, Holt creates a character for the ages.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2015

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. Everyone's favorite macaroni penguin is back, here with a new school project. Tony Baloney finds his "perfect match" in new pen pal Sam, who, like Tony, rides a scooter and is the middle child. But when the two finally meet, Tony learns that friends can come in surprising packages. Confident emerging readers will appreciate the story's twist; brightly colored illustrations add friendly details.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(2) YA Ollie is allergic to electricity; his German pen pal and "fellow hermit" Moritz was born without eyes and has a pacemaker. Beneath the surface of this realistic fiction novel about friendship and alienation is something more speculative: Ollie actually repels electricity, Moritz can echolocate, and these abilities may be manmade. The protagonists' distinct, deeply memorable voices make this an affecting page-turner.

Reviewer: Sarah Hannah Gomez | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2015

(4) K-3 Bear Herman finds it hard to reply to his raccoon best friend Henry's letters about exciting new friends and experiences, but one letter prompts Herman to hand-deliver his response, setting him on an adventurous journey to visit the friend he so misses. Friends separated by a move will identify with Herman's vulnerability. Spirited illustrations and lift-the-flap letters add some interest to the rambling story.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. "Dear Santa, Thank you for my Christmas presents." So begins Ava's yearlong correspondence with Santa. He's pleased to receive a thank-you note and answers monthly, describing how he's met the Tooth Fairy but not the Easter Bunny, how to handle brothers who don't believe in him, and more. It's entertaining repartee, supported by cheerful illustrations of their respective lives.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(2) YA In alternating first-person accounts and letters, fifteen-year-old Nawra, living in a camp in the Sudan, and K. C., a fourteen-year-old Virginia girl struggling with learning disabilities, find strength in their pen-pal friendship. Nawra's letters are embroidered with Sudanese proverbs; despite believing she is "dumb," K. C. invests her letters with curiosity and spirit. These two correspondents make readers long to learn more about them.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2013

(4) YA Mother-Daughter Book Club series. The overstuffed plot finds a French exchange student living with Megan; Jess going to national finals for a cappella; Cassidy's hockey team also going to nationals; and Becca's romantic life heating up. Meanwhile, the girls are reading Jane Eyre. As usual, minor dramas and misunderstandings occur. This series will likely appeal to fans far younger than the characters' ages of sixteen.

Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor

(4) 4-6 Meena, an Indian immigrant girl in New York, and River, a boy from coal-country Kentucky, become pen pals. Through their letters, they help each other cope with family struggles, environmental disasters, and even death and homelessness. While occasionally heavy-handed regarding the issues, each letter writer’s voice is strong and distinct with the passion of budding adolescents. Sporadic visuals are included.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth