Extra Credit

By: Andrew Clements

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

It isn’t that Abby Carson can’t do her schoolwork. She just doesn’t like doing it. And consequently, Abby will have to repeat sixth grade—unless she meets some specific conditions, including taking on an extra credit project: find a pen pal in a distant country. But when Abby’s first letter arrives at a small school in Afghanistan, complications arise. The elders agree that any letters going back to America must be written well, but the only qualified English-speaking student is a boy. And in this village, it’s not proper for a boy to correspond with a girl. So, Sadeed’s sister will dictate and sign the letters for him. But what about the villagers who believe that girls should not be anywhere near a school? And what about those who believe that any contact with Americans is...unhealthy?

As letters flow back and forth—between the prairies of Illinois and the mountains of central Asia, across cultural and religious divides, through the minefields of different lifestyles and traditions—a small group of children begin to speak and listen to each other. And in just a few short weeks, they make important discoveries about their communities, about their world, and most of all, about themselves.©2009 Andrew Clements; (P)2009 Simon & Schuster

wonderful read!

Amazing story of friendship and personal growth. All children should read this book in elementary school.

Great

This book is so great!! I love it soo so so much you should read it

The Best Book!

THE BEST BOOK IN THE WORD! U REALY SHOULD WATCH IT. OK. IT IS TO GOOD TO MISS

Another great book by Clements

My girls (7 and 9) "loved this book very, very much." (A direct quote). Clements' books are favorites in our household and this one is particularly good..incorporates contemporary issues regarding Afghanistan well, it provides the basis for talking about how we are not reflective about our own situations and surroundings until someone else points out the beauty and distinctivenes that we take for granted.

Daddy/Daughter time

my daughter loves the Andrew Clements books.
after downloading and listening to Frindle (still her favorite), she is going through each of his books on audio now as we either drive together or listens to a chapter or two right before bedtime