P.S. Longer Letter Later facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Paula Danziger and Ann M. Martin |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children novel |
| Publisher | Scholastic |
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Publication date
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1998 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
P.S. Longer Letter Later is a special kind of book written by Paula Danziger and Ann M. Martin in 1998. It's called an epistolary novel, which means the whole story is told through letters. The book shares a year of letters between two twelve-year-old best friends, Tara (who calls herself Tara*Starr) and Elizabeth. This book has a sequel called Snail Mail No More.
The authors worked together to write the book. Paula Danziger wrote all the letters from Tara's point of view. Ann M. Martin wrote all the letters from Elizabeth's point of view. Their writing styles matched their characters perfectly. For example, Tara's voice is like the characters in Paula's "Amber Brown" books. Elizabeth's writing style is similar to the "Baby-sitters Club" books by Ann. The authors even said their own friendship was tested while writing the story, just like Tara and Elizabeth's friendship in the book.
The Story of Two Friends
Tara is a lively and outgoing girl who loves to write. Elizabeth is more quiet and shy. She enjoys writing poetry. Even though they are different, they are the best of friends.
Tara Moves Away
The story begins when Tara moves to Ohio. This means the girls can no longer see each other every day. To keep their friendship strong, they decide to write letters back and forth. Elizabeth's father does not like Tara, and Tara's parents think phone calls are too expensive. So, letters become their main way to talk.
Changes in Their Lives
Their letters share all the big changes happening in their lives. Tara has to get used to a new town and make new friends. She also learns that her mother is expecting a baby. In Ohio, Tara makes a new best friend named Hannah. Tara gives Hannah the nickname "Pal Indrome" because her name is the same spelled forwards and backward. Everyone starts calling her "Pal." Tara also gets a boyfriend, Alex, who gives her a kiss.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth's family starts to face difficulties. Her father loses his job, which causes money problems. He starts coming home later and spending a lot. This makes Elizabeth worried and scared. Because of their money troubles, Elizabeth's family has to move to a smaller apartment. Eventually, her dad decides to leave, and her parents separate.
Keeping Friendship Strong
Through their letters, readers see how Tara and Elizabeth grow up and change. They learn how to keep their friendship strong, even when they are far apart. The book shows that long-distance friendships can be hard. But it also teaches that if you truly care about someone and work at it, a friendship can last through anything.
