Title: Extra Credit
Author: Andrew Clements
Major Themes: Friendship, Writing, Cultures
Synopsis: When she is forced to decide between repeating sixth grade or writing to a pen pal in another country, Abby Carson chooses to write—and her letters to Afghanistan might teach her more than she originally bargained for.
Andrew Clements has been a favorite author in our family for many years, and although I’m nowhere close to saying I’ve read all his books, it’s been fun over the past few years to work on filling in the gaps of some of the books he’s written that I haven’t read yet. One of those gaps was Extra Credit, and I’m so thankful I got the chance to read this story! In some ways, it’s quite different from many of Clements’ other books—for one thing, it has a character that lives outside the US—but it still carries his signature simplicity, charm, and gripping writing style that keeps you moving through the story.
Publisher’s description:
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.
My thoughts:
Of the many Clements books I’ve heard and read over the years, this may be one of my favorites. I loved getting to know Abby Carson as she tried to figure out how to avoid the horrific possibility of repeating a school year due to negligence. Watching her grow and change as a character was definitely a highlight. I also loved getting to know Sadeed and his family and culture—I haven’t read much about people in Afghanistan, so that aspect was fascinating. I loved how he wanted to honor and respect those over him, but also wanted to learn about other people and cultures, too—balancing the two can be tricky, as he found out, and watching that progression was fascinating.
I wouldn’t consider any of Clements’ books particularly excellent literature, but his stories always have that something that makes them well worth reading—even if you don’t necessarily like the characters or the situation they find themselves in (which, to be honest, has been a rare experience). He does a great job creating complex, interesting characters, and there’s always a twist to the plot that you don’t see coming until it happens. Through his stories, you get to see another piece of the broader world, and I love that.
If you’re looking for good fiction to hand to your children, I highly recommend you check out Extra Credit and Clements’ other books. Dealing with real-world issues and exploring the complexities (and joys) of growing up, these middle-grade books are ones our whole family enjoys. Recommended!
WARNING: A couple of times, a boy goes behind his parent’s and teacher’s backs to do something he thinks is important. Chapter 15: A man tells of someone who was hung and threatens a boy for communicating with an American.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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