This article describes a pen pal project that took place between preservice teachers and students in an urban middle school. The purpose of this project was twofold: to expose preservice teachers to the rewards of urban teaching and to expose urban middle school students to adult reading role models. As a result of the project, both goals were accomplished. The authors discuss implications for both the urban student and preservice teacher populations and offer recommendations for university and K-12 teachers to implement programs like this in their own classrooms. (Contains 5 figures.)