It’s not uncommon to find “treasures” in Little Free Library book-sharing boxes. Although, these treasures are typically in the form of a best-seller that has been on your TBR or a timeless classic you stumble upon right when you’re ready for a re-read. But when Katie Slocum opened State of Wonder by Ann Pachett, which she picked up in a Little Free Library in D.C.’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood, she found something unexpected that set her on an adventure beyond the confines of the story’s pages.
Inside the novel, Katie found a handwritten note, dated August 2003, from an unnamed grandmother to her granddaughter Jackie. According to an article in The Washington Post, the letter opens, “My Dearest Jackie” and continues to describe her as, “the girl who staged impromptu performances singing show tunes for her family and sparkled like ‘a rare vintage champagne’ while giving so much of herself to her friends and family.” Katie instantly knew that that the letter was special and that she would try to reunite it with its owner.
Since Katie had no information beyond Jackie’s first name, she looked to the internet for help. She posted the details of her quest on local social media forums, and as Jacqueline Roche was scrolling online the next day, she was shocked to see her grandmother’s handwriting and the beloved keepsake she had unknowingly given away four years ago.
The letter was deeply important to Jackie. And like how many readers return to their favorite books or passages, she had revisited the words her grandmother had written throughout her life—especially during times of homesickness and loneliness.
Jackie reached out to Katie to recover the letter, and they corresponded briefly before deciding to meet at Mount Pleasant’s town square the following weekend. Jackie was nervous before the meeting, wondering how she would be able to identify Katie and comparing the situation to going on a “blind date.” But Jackie’s unease disappeared as soon as she spotted Katie across the town square holding State of Wonder. The two women felt an instant connection, chatting easily and hugging at least three times during their first meeting. Following the meeting, they quickly transitioned from strangers to friends. Reflecting on their connection, Jackie said, “I feel like we’re probably always going to be connected somehow.” A letter in a Little Free Library was just the conduit!
Beyond reuniting Jackie with her prized possession and sparking a new friendship, this journey also deepened Jackie’s relationship with her grandmother Irene. Prior to the letter resurfacing, Jackie and Irene spoke on the phone every few weeks. However, the letter inspired Jackie and Irene to talk more frequently. Taking trips down memory lane together, they reminisced about favorite moments, like when Jackie would stage performances for Irene and when they went dancing in Atlantic City for Jackie’s 21st birthday. Through Irene, the letter’s impact continued to spread. In The Washington Post article, Irene shared that, “her friends at her senior community have been tickled by the story of the resurfaced letter, because it’s the rare bit of news that’s not about a friend’s sickness or death. But it also caused pangs of sadness and regret for some who wished they had written similar letters to their granddaughters and had that kind of relationship with them.”
What happened to the letter between Jackie accidentally donating the letter and Katie picking it up still remains a mystery. It may have stayed in the Little Free Library—visitors noticing the significance of note inside and leaving the book in case the owner returned to retrieve it. Or perhaps it passed from reader to reader, each one tucking the letter safely back between the pages before returning it to the library. “It truly is wonderful that somebody put themselves out to find out where you are and who you are. In this day and age, that’s far and few between,” said Irene.
We’re not surprised that a Little Free Library is at the center of this heartwarming story. According to a recent survey, 72% of volunteer stewards say they have met more neighbors because of their Little Free Library, and thanks to these stewards 98% of patrons say their neighborhood feels like a friendlier place because of a Little Free Library. Katie’s quest truly highlighted the power of Little Free Libraries to bring people together in unexpected ways!
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