Book excerpt: What is a pen pal? That's the questions that Christina Riley wondered in her sixth grade math class. Christina is excited about having a pen pal. She is excited about having to write a pen pal and who her pen pal would be. Would she be nice, would she be mean, or would she be a he? Pen pals can be from anywhere in the world. Christina wanted her pen pal to be from New York since she wanted to visit there someday. Christina would have a lot to talk about with her pen pal. Like what is her favorite color, what's her favorite food, and what is her hobbies. Most pen pals never meet. But would Christina get to meet her pen pal? Would she get to know what her pen pal look like? Christina is excited to have a pen pal as a friend. Christina also loved to write. She loved to meet new people as well. Christina's best friend, Alyssa, is excited about her pen pal assignment as well. Both the girls are. When Christina told Mrs. Smith what state she wanted her pen pal to be from, she couldn't wait to find out who her pen pal would be. So who would Christina's pen pal be? And would she write Christina back, or would Christina not get a response?