EXTRA CREDIT
written by Andrew Clements
illustrated by Mark Elliott
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Hardcover: 9781416949299
Paperback: 9781416949312
Ages 8-12
224 pages
Abby Carson is very dedicated to her hobbies, like rock climbing, exploring the forest, and building her tree house. She loves a challenge, as long as it involves being outside and active. What she doesn’t love --- what she loathes actually --- is homework. Sitting around with your head buried in books is so boring, so she avoids it at all costs. But then she gets called to her counselor’s office with some bad news.
Abby’s teachers all agree that it would be best if she stayed back and repeated the sixth grade. It would be humiliating for this to happen when all of her friends move on to junior high, not to mention the fact that she would have to endure even more boredom by having to sit through the sixth grade again. So Abby meets with her teachers and they devise a plan. If Abby does all of her homework, every last page, and gets a B or better on her tests, she could probably squeak through and pass. That sounds like more than enough work, except there’s one more thing --- an extra credit assignment that involves writing to a pen pal on the other side of the world.
In a small village in Afghanistan, the teacher and the counselors meet to discuss this new opportunity. They want to set a shining example and decide to give the project to the best pupil. But the best pupil is a boy named Sadeed Bayat, and in their culture, it isn’t proper for a boy and a girl to be writing letters to each other. So they hand the work over to Sadeed’s younger sister with instructions for Sadeed to help her with the translations, grammar and spelling. Sadeed isn’t too thrilled with the assignment at first, but quickly grows interested, and even starts adding his own sentences to his sister’s dictated letters.
If his secret is discovered, he could get in deep trouble, not to mention bring shame to his family. But he can’t help it; he feels a bond with his new American friend, and for Abby the feeling is mutual. In fact, Sadeed inspires her to double her efforts and do an even better job with her letters. But how can this forbidden friendship ever hope to survive?
This captivating story will pull readers quickly through the pages with curiosity and intrigue. Many will relate strongly to the colorful character of Abby, with her love of outdoor activities and hatred of homework. Abby just may be able to inspire a new interest in learning. Andrew Clements cleverly alternates points of view between Abby and Sadeed so readers can see through both of their eyes. He has come up with a creative approach to learning about another culture in an interesting way, plus allowing his audience to see how a foreigner might view the American culture. As an added highlight, Mark Elliott has shared his artistic talents, providing wonderful illustrations throughout this delightful book.
--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT, THE BLACK POND and GHOSTS OF THE UPPER PENINSULA
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