Lizzy Moore

Dear James Patterson,

I used to be nervous about being boyish. I felt like it was wrong to be a girl and still be boyish. I thought everyone thought I was weird. It didn't even occur to me that being boyish was okay. I thought I had good friends, even though they acted like they wanted me to be more girlish.

Once I started your book, Maximum Ride; The Angel Experiment, I felt less and less nervous about being boyish. I started being myself, adventurous and boyish. I started having more fun. Like Max. She doesn't care what other people think. She would ignore someone's look like a crumb on the floor would be. Now, I just ignore when people give me a dirty look or say I'm weird like she does. It's important to be yourself. If a friend says you need to be more girlish (or if you're a boy, boyish) then they're not a good friend. Real friends, like the way YOU are when you're being yourself. Myself just happens to like playing basketball with some boys, liking rap songs, not afraid to pick up a worm, and don't really like to get all dressed up. Max is pretty much the same, only she's not afraid of anything, she's 15, and she can fly.

I learned just to be myself. Life is not about worrying or being a girly-girl. It's about having fun, learning, and being you. That's why good friends like each other the way they are. I found friends that liked me for who I am. Now, I have plenty good friends. I'll always remember to be myself and have fun. Thank you for teaching me that I should be myself. It made me realize that good friends like you the way you are.

Your reader truly,
Lizzy Moore