"More than a stunning debut. It is the announcement of a bold new literary voice"
—Stephen Chbosky, author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower

You’re the reason that I bought this book today, and the reason that I bought it today and not when it first was released. I couldn’t read it then. It was too much, too close; years are coming to a close again (“The Year Turns ‘Round Again,” but we never were singing that song at the same time now, were we?). You still sting, like a papercut I forgot about until I get it wet. You’re like the window that looks closed but the cold still seeps in through it and makes me shake under the covers in bed at night. You’re in ever plane I see over head, you’re in ever khaki jacket and the smell of pipe tobacco and old maps; you’re the flicker between the film cells in old movies, and you’re going to live there for the rest of my life. T. E. L. and Mr. O’Toole are having coffee with you now. Or tea. Did you like tea better? I can’t remember. I can’t remember a lot of things anymore. I still wish I knew what happened to your horse, your rabbit, your airplane. You’re the tears when the Titanic goes down, you’re ... Read more

I guessed I messed up badly huh? I failed you, I was failing you ever since but then you still kept believing that there was more to me. A few weeks before you died, you asked me whether I’d missed you when you die and of course I knew then I surely would, I could still remember how that was our first and second to the last real talk and how we moved to the kitchen to fill our stomachs up, we were very silent then, we weren’t talking but we understood each other, it was the comfortable kind of silence, the one where you actually just here the air breathing as well. But now, it even sucks more because as much as I knew that I’d missed you, the pain of missing you never goes away, it hurts just as badly as you left and what’s worst is the guilt is eating me up every time, tears come running down over and over again, the guilt of not giving you my time when I knew a little of it was left, the guilt of thinking more about myself rather than taking care of you. I don’t know how I ... Read more

I miss you. Every one does. One thing I love about this book is, “There are two most important things in the world— being in danger, and being saved.” This is the thing, we were all once in danger and you came to save us, with your words and actions. No one could save you. You lost the biggest battle, but it’s ok, I’ve learned from this book that we should all forgive the ones that leave us, and that’s what I’m doing. I guess it was just your time to go. You never smoked, and you were 37 when you were diagnosed with lukemia. I didn’t even know until it was year four for you. I was six when you were diagnosed, so I guess my parents didn’t want to upset me. We were all going out for dinner, my mom dad brother and sister, and you called. My mom started crying and my dad was very upset. I was so confused. That’s when they told me it spread, and that you even had it. Every where. We could do nothing, just pray. That’s what we did, but I think you were just ready to go. You went out ... Read more

You were my godmother’s mother and a joy to have around. When I found my mother crying on the floor in our living room, she told me you passed away. She was crying so hard that I couldn’t help but feel sad too. I cried with her for awhile and I just couldn’t believe it. You were fun . I love you! P.S. We still have your salsa bowl, the one with grapes on it. So don’t worry, it’s safe. (It’s also one of mom’s most prized possessions). 🙂

There is something so real, raw, and honest about you and I find it striking. I say this in present tense because it stands true even though you are gone. I can watch an interview and feel so sure that you’re still here; or I can hear your song come on and every being of my bones starts to dance. How beautiful that you put sadness into something you can dance to. Thank you for that. Thank you for making sadness something beautiful, because it is. Thank you for making it real, raw, and honest just like you. It makes us feel, and it makes us remember we’re alive – there is still a beating heart there. You, beloved, remind me that I am alive. You, dear Amy, are still alive.

I have loved you for years. In a few months it’ll complete 3 years since you left, and took a little piece of my heart with you. I love you so much, and i admire you in so many ways! It doesn’t matter the way you died, but i really care about your life. and you were such a big inspiration to me! Your beautiful half smile, your big heart, the way you couldn’t dance, and your angel’s voice. I miss the way you looked at Lea, and i miss your funny tweets. I still share a tear every once in a while, and sometimes my heart aches when i remember i’ll never get the chance to offer you a warm embrace. I’m from far, i’m brazilian. I wish you knew how many and different lives you touched. I wish it could give you enough straight to fight against your demons. You’re my hero, because even knowing you may lost the biggest war, i’m proud to know you tried to fight, and i’m proud of the man you were, a man that faced his problems, and used his courage to try to be better, I’m only sorry that my love ... Read more

I loved Little Women so much! I could relate to it because I have a sister and it’s probably my most favorite classic. It’s sad that Beth dies. She was probably the favorite of fans, because she was so kind. My favorite, though, is Jo. I can relate to her too because I love reading and writing so much. I didn’t know what to think of Meg, and Laurie seemed to good for Amy, the spoiled, vain little brat that she is. I think Laurie should have gone with Jo. But all in all, I love your book. P.S. Jack and Jill: A Village Story sounds very interesting. (I love nursery rhymes, too).

I never knew who you were until I listen to the cast recording of Hamilton, an american musical, based off your life. The music tells your story and it was amazing. It combined history and rap into one great big wonderful thing. Best ear candy. Most importantly, I learned about the mistakes you made and the risk you took. I was amazed at what you did. Your mistake made me realize it’s okay to and made me feel better about my mistakes(making a pamphlet about your affair wasn’t really the best decision you could have made). You made me realize that it will be okay. You have changed my life, and I know you have changed a lot of other’s lives too. So from all of us, thank you.

I decided to write to you because your life when you were my age was a lot like my life is right now. When you were 13-18 your mom encouraged you to write books, but you never really gave it a chance. My mom does the same thing to me, she will read all of my poems or books that I would start writing but never finished. She tells me that I am a great writer, but I don’t believe her. I think that your life is an example of it taking a while to realize what you truly want to do in life, and not just rushing to a conclusion. What made you discover that you wanted to be a writer though? I researched you even more, and found out that you moved to Paris from England to sing. I think that is amazing that you had the courage to move to Paris by yourself to follow what was your dream at the time. I love to sing, but I could never move far away from my family. Later in 1916, you finally published your first book, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. What was your inspiration to write ... Read more

Thank you for the way you made fantasy creatures and places come to life. When you wrote the Chronicles of Narnia, I felt like I had another life away from the life I was currently living. I researched you, and it turns out that you and your big brother were very close and loved to pretend that fantasy creatures were real. Me and my baby sister, Trinity, play a lot of make believe since she is so little and loves to play games. We also create a world where there are pirates, super powers, princesses, and wizards. I guess that is also like what you and your older brother used to do. I read that you and Warren created a place named the Land of Boxen. Is that where you came up with the idea for Narnia? Anyways, I found out that you weren’t a strong Christian when you were younger, in fact, you didn’t show any signs of being a Christian at all. I am like that right now, and I don’t know what to believe and what I should believe. But something must have changed your mind, since all of your books have many Christian references in them. ... Read more