Luke Safris

Photo:  Luke Safris and Iowa Poet Laureate Mary Swander                                                                                                    



Dear Steve Young,

Everybody makes mistakes, even book characters. In your book 15 Minutes, Casey makes mistakes all the time, most of which involve him being late. The Go-Back allows him to fix these mistakes, but there are consequences for going back in time. I have wanted to go back in time and fix things that have went wrong in my life. When I read your book I rethought that idea.

The one thing I have wanted to fix all my life is the time when my sister, Emma, died at 8 days old because of an illness at birth. She would be in fourth grade right now if she had survived. I've always wondered whether or not we'd argue about things like what we watch on TV or who gets to put the angel on top of the Christmas tree. I've wondered what her personality would be like and how well she would do in school.

I realize now, though, that had Emma survived, so many things would be different. My mom probably wouldn't have had my 3-year-old brother, Will, and maybe not my 7-year-old sister, Ali. Even though they can be annoying sometimes, I can't imagine life without them. We play games together, read stories to each other, and comfort each other when we're sad.

Like Casey, I have had things go wrong in my life, and reading your book gave me someone to relate to. I felt as if I could be the main character, and the book would still be the same. I hope many other people who read this book feel the same as I do and are able to see how everything we experience in life has a purpose.

Sincerely,
Luke Safris