It is very brave that Ryen has succeeded to overcome her fears and let her true self shine.Īlthough this is a story about teenagers, Penelope discusses important matters of our community loneliness, social media, bullying, family, friendship. The most important part is if we change and understand our errors. Everyone is scared to be left alone and we all have done things that we regret.

Ryen on the other hand is a girl that many will criticize but more will find a part of themselves in her. She starts sharing her true self with him, her wants, her needs. When a boy that makes her furious turns up in school like a ghost, she is intrigued. Misha is her only friend but when he stops writing her, she is lost.

She doesn’t want to be alone, so she does anything in her power to stay on top of the school chain. He fights her and he is excited to see underneath her image, there is hidden the girl he has always known. She is conceited, a bully, a school queen. Misha finds a girl nothing like his dream girl. When their lives are crossed again ,both are different. He hates her and loves her and Ryen is left alone without someone to lean on. A tragedy though in his life makes him stop writing her. When unexpectedly Misha finds her at a party without her knowing, he finds a different girl. They are best friends, they share their secrets, the complete each other. They exchange only letters and they have agreed to share their lives through words but not in the real word. Misha has been pen pals with Ryen for years but they have never met. I know that her stories are like a drug that you get addicted and underneath the angst of their age, there is depth and hidden messages about our lives, our fears, our community. My school years ended years ago, so I rarely read books with so young characters but Penelope Douglas is one of my exceptions.

Ryen and misha