Wallace is one of the first friends that Martin makes when he leaves behind his old school in Zimbabwe to attend one of the nation’s most prestigious boarding schools. Like Martin, Wallace also comes from a poor area of Zimbabwe, so the two have a lot in common. Wallace manages to get accepted to study at an American university. Though he initially struggles to adapt to the new culture, Caitlin’s family helps him feel more welcome in the new country. Wallace acts as proof, both for Caitlin and for Martin, that it’s possible for someone from Martin’s background to study in the United States, and so his story gives hope to both of them.
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Wallace Character Timeline in I Will Always Write Back
The timeline below shows where the character Wallace appears in I Will Always Write Back. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 5: Martin, June 2002
...college admissions process. Martin already knows a little bit because he has a friend named Wallace who has taken the SATs and is going abroad. He makes an arrangement with the...
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Part 5: Martin, August 2002
In Zimbabwe, Martin tells his friend Wallace (who is traveling to the United States for college) that he should reach out to...
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Part 5: Caitlin, September 2002
In Pennsylvania, Caitlin is excited to hear about Wallace, because he is proof that someone from Zimbabwe can make it to an American university.
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Part 5: Martin, September 2002
...SAT confirming that he has a test date in Harare. He gets another email from Wallace saying that the email addresses Martin gave for Caitlin and Caitlin’s mom aren’t working. Martin...
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Part 5: Caitlin, October 2002
...University to finish his degree. Soon after, they are shocked to get an email from Wallace saying that he is studying at Temple.
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Caitlin’s mom goes to visit Wallace at Temple. Wallace doesn’t have anything in his dorm room, so Caitlin’s mom tells Caitlin...
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Caitlin’s family takes Wallace to a restaurant, and he is surprised by some of the things he sees, like...
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Part 5: Martin, October 2002
In Zimbabwe, Martin gets an email from Wallace about how nice Caitlin’s family is. Martin also gets emails from Caitlin’s mom, updating him...
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Part 5: Caitlin, November 2002
In Pennsylvania, Wallace comes to visit Caitlin’s family during the last week in October, then starts coming every...
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Richie gets accepted at Temple. Caitlin’s mom invites Wallace to temporarily live with them, since Richie will also be commuting and Wallace doesn’t get...
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Part 6: Martin, May 2003
In Zimbabwe, Martin learns about how much his friend Wallace is struggling at school in the United States. Wallace’s family in Zimbabwe is grateful for...
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Wallace’s parents tell Martin about the help Caitlin’s family has provided to Wallace. They go to...
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Part 6: Martin, August 2003
...the money he got from Caitlin’s mom. He goes to Victoria Falls to wait with Wallace’s parents for the plane tickets to arrive, but by August 11, the tickets still haven’t...
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Part 6: Martin, August 14, 2003
Wallace’s parents say that they’re taking Martin to the airport and that he’ll get on a...
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Part 6: Caitlin, August 15, 2003
...they’re his own family. Martin has arrived with nothing but a toothbrush, some things for Wallace, and the clothes on his back—Caitlin’s mom has promised to take care of everything else....
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Part 6: Martin, August 15, 2003
Martin gets the same room in Caitlin’s family’s house that Wallace had stayed in earlier. Caitlin decides to take Martin to the mall for the first...
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Epilogue: Martin, March 5, 2008
...Martin gives a speech about how he is grateful that she met her husband Dzmitry. Wallace is there too and also cheers. Martin was living in Manhattan when he heard that...
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