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    Extra Credit
    Extra Credit
    Extra Credit
    Ebook166 pages1 hour

    Extra Credit

    By Andrew Clements and Mark Elliott

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    About this ebook

    It isn’t that Abby Carson can’t do her schoolwork. She just doesn’t like doing it. And in February a warning letter arrives at her home. Abby will have to repeat sixth grade—unless she meets some specific conditions, including taking on an extra-credit project to find a pen pal in a distant country. Seems simple enough. But when Abby’s first letter arrives at a small school in Afghanistan, the village elders agree that any letters going back to America must be written well. In English. And the only qualified student is a boy, Sadeed Bayat. Except in this village, it is not proper for a boy to correspond with a girl. So Sadeed’s younger sister will write the letters. Except she knows hardly any English. So Sadeed must write the letters. For his sister to sign. 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? Not so simple. But 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 one another. And in just a few short weeks, they make important discoveries about their communities, about their world, and most of all, about themselves.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAtheneum Books for Young Readers
    Release dateMar 13, 2012
    ISBN9781416995203
    Author

    Andrew Clements

    Andrew Clements (1949–2019) was the author of the enormously popular Frindle. More than 10 million copies of his books have been sold, and he was nominated for a multitude of state awards, including a Christopher Award and an Edgar Award. His popular works include About Average, Troublemaker, Extra Credit, Lost and Found, No Talking, Room One, Lunch Money, and more. He was also the author of the Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School series. Find out more at AndrewClements.com.

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    Reviews for Extra Credit

    4/5

    27 ratings28 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Oops I read this in one day and was sad when it ended. I thought I have another couple of chapters but when she said the farms and green fields were beautiful and I turned the page, it was all over. Great book, especially where 2 parts of the world are compared and contrasted.

      It isn’t that Abby Carson can’t do her schoolwork. She just doesn’t like doing it. And in February a warning letter arrives at her home. 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. Seems simple enough.

      But when Abby's first letter arrives at a small school in Afghanistan, the teacher takes it to the village elders. And everyone agrees that any letters going back to America must be written well in English. And the only qualified student is a boy, Sadeed Bayat. Except in this village, it is not proper for a boy to correspond with a girl. So Sadeed’s younger sister will write the letters. Except she knows hardly any English. So Sadeed must write the letters. 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.

    • 4/5
      When Abby Carson learns she's in danger of failing the sixth grade, her teacher assigns her an extra credit assignment to help with her social studies grade. Abby will write to a pen pal in Afghanistan and then present a report to the class. When Sadeed writes back to her, Abby learns that although they are different, they are also the same, and she begins to see her life in America through new eyes. Andrew Clements is a master of realistic fiction for middle graders. Abby and Sadeed came to life for me and I didn't want to stop reading about them. I wouldn't say this is one of my favorite of Clements's books, but it's a solid addition to his stellar list of titles. With the Middle East in the news so often, this would make a great classroom title and perhaps it'll inspire elementary students to pick up a pen and make their own connections across the globe.
    • 4/5
      Grades 3 and up. Enjoyable story about far-away pen pals that learn a lot about themselves and each other.
    • 3/5
      This meaningful novel is about a girl who struggles in school. In order to pass seventh grade she must accomplish an extra credit project: Communicating with a kid on the other side of the world! She becomes friends with her pen pal and learns more about this new culture.
    • 4/5
      Well done story with good characters. A chance to introduce current history.
    • 4/5
      This was a great approach to a very contemporary issue. The exchange of letters between a girl from Illinois and brother and sister in Afghanistan really approaches an issue a perfect way. It allows the reader to feel comfortable in discussing the place without being overwhelmed by it. I was very impressed with the honest and delicate approach he took with the whole exchange. It seemed plausible and sincere. That's the way a good book does things.
    • 4/5
      This story bridges part of a cultural gap between two different countries, Illinois, United States and Afghanistan, but brings up questions that sometimes can't be answered. Working hard for something that you want even need pays off if you are sincere about it. Procrastination for too long can really hurt you personally. There are lessons to be had in this book, prioritizing, working hard to accomplish a targeted outcome, overcoming fears, bending rules that are not harmful to others, but understanding why the rules are in place. This is a chapter book for ages 8-12. It does not get bogged down in the task at having to do the homework but keeps up the pace to see what the next letter will say.
    • 3/5
       The book is about a girl named Abby who was assigned to write letters to a pen pal in Afghanistan in order to not fail the 6th grade. Through her correspondence with her pen pal they start to form a strong connection.
    • 5/5
      In this thrilling book, Abby is in danger of having to repeat sixth grade unless she completes an extra credit project that involves writing to a pen pal in Afghanistan. While the action in the book starts out slowly, it quickly picks up when Abby begins to receive letters from the brother of the girl she thought she had been writing to, saying that he had been writing the letters through his sister since it was against his culture for a boy to write to a girl. Reading this book provides readers with a glimpse into the relationship between the U.S. and Afghanistan and how intolerance exists in both of these countries. It also teaches readers that there is more to life in Afghanistan than bombing, shooting, and fighting and gives them a glimpse into Afghan culture. The book reads like an exchange between Abby and the brother/sister pair in Afghanistan, since their letters and actions are profiled in different chapters. This book is highly recommended for libraries. Not only will readers be able to relate to the school theme and learn about a form of communication other than email or calling, but they will also learn a valuable lesson about appreciating one’s own home and respecting others’ cultures.
    • 5/5
      This is a fantastic story of accepting situations and people for what they are and pushing to achieve goals. Abby finds herself about to be held back if she cannot do better in school and ends up needing an extra credit assignment to bring her grades up. Little did she know that she would be making a new friend in another part of the world! Sadeed is a good student in Afghanistan and is not pleased at the thought of having to help his sister write letters back and forth with a girl in America but soon finds himself looking forward to the letters just as much as his sister.
    • 4/5
      Possibly my favorite of the Bluestems. Of course, life is different for kids in America and Afghanistan, but such an interesting way to show what's important.
    • 5/5
      This is a story about and American girl named Abby and an Afghan boy named Sadeed. Abby is about ready to fail sixth grade so to avoid repeating it the following year she takes on an extra credit assignment that entails writing to a pen pal in Afghanistan. Due to conservative traditions in Afghanistan a girl is selected to write to Abby, but her brother Sadeed, who is also the best student in the village, oversees the letter writing to uphold the village's honor. Abby begins to take the pen pal writing seriously when she sees how much work Amira (really Sadeed) puts into her letters. A secret friendship evolves between Abby and Sadeed after Sadeed reveals to her that he is actually writing the letters. After a hostile in Afghanistan discovers that the village is friendly with Americans, the people in the village grow afraid that they will be attacked and the letter writing comes to an end. This story sends the message that we should not take the freedom that we have as US citizens for granted. We have many privileges and opportunities that people of other countries do not have. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to others. This would be an excellent book to read when studying the Middle East and warfare. It would also be a good book to read as a class if the class is going to have pen pals. Reading this book brought back memories of my first pen pal in third grade. She went to another school in the town I grew up in, but I remember how excited I would get when her letters came in the mail.
    • 4/5
      Might be a good companion to Three Cups of Tea. Another charming school story from the author of Frindle, this one about a pen pal r'ship 'twixt a girl in the US and a boy in a Afghanistan.
    • 3/5
      Abby is failing 6th grade! The only way Abby can pas is if she does all her work and a extra credit project. The project is to send messages to a person living in Afghanistan, but a problem occures and they cant send any more letters
    • 3/5
      Narrated by Gabra Zackman. Abby is in danger of having to repeat the 6th grade but an extra-credit project can help her meet the requirements for advancement. Her project is to begin a penpal correspondence with a student in Afghanistan. Sadeed is tapped by his teacher to be that correspondent but village leaders rule that, for propriety's sake, Sadeed's sister Amira must write the letters and Sadeed can help with the English. Still, Abby and Sadeed manage to find a kindred spirit in each other, before the correspondence is abruptly cut short by the village leaders. I liked the idea of young people from very different places finding a common ground, and particularly involving a country so often in the news today.
    • 5/5
      A story about Abby in the sixth grade who doesnt seem to care much about her course work, she just doesnt want to do the work. She loves gym and the climbing wall. She learns that becuase of her lack of school work completed she may have to repeat sixth grade. She is told by her teacher that unless she wants to repeat, she must do some projects. One of these is a writting assingnment that she has to pick a child in another country and write to him or her. The assignment sparks her interest and she learns alot about the boy from Afgahnistan. She learns that girls in that country are not encouraged to go to school. That he is a boy and boys and girls should not be writting to each other in his country.They become good friends and learn alot about each others lives and how different they are but how much in common they have.
    • 4/5
      I was interested to read this book, because it is my impression that there are not enough books that seek to educate young readers about the current contention between the US and Afghanistan. At first I was very disappointed with the pace of this book - it felt extremely slow. Even when I was almost halfway through I felt that the plot dragged and the voice was very slow. However, once Sadeed wrote his own letter to Abby, things started picking up and I got much more interested. I loved the symbolism of the mountain rock and the little pile of dirt taking on new meaning after traveling across the world. The imagery was very powerful. I thought the author portrayed the racism and hatred that can exist in both cultures very well and painted both episodes in a way that was simple and easy for young readers to understand while still showing them how detrimental it is. I think this book would be a great resource for teaching students not only about the relationship between the US and Afghanistan, but for teaching acceptance and respect for other cultures. The best thing about this book is that it shows intolerance on both sides of the world and how sad this intolerance makes both Abby and Sadeed. Seeing intolerance through these two different lenses makes this book much more meaningful and valuable as a teaching tool.
    • 4/5
      Abby isn't passing her classes. She doesn't want to fail middle school so she is given an extra credit assignment. She must write to a pen pal in Afghanistan. Things get interesting when her pen pal turns out to be a boy, posing as his sister because her writing isn't up to his standards. It's a great story that shows both cultures in a realistic light. A fun read that will make you think, too!
    • 5/5
      Genre: Realistic FictionReview: The author did a good job of creating a book that stays true to the genre of realistic fiction. This is a vary believable story that centers around a young girl who is about to flunk the 6th grade and her only means of passing is to do an extra credit project that involves writing to a penpal overseas. Media: Pencil
    • 5/5
      I thought it was an outstanding book.
    • 5/5
      age app: intermediategenre: realistic fictionreview: this is a great example of realistic fiction because it takes probable circumstances of a girl and a boy pen pal, and the risks and dangers of their communication. It shows the positives and negatives of the two cultures, and puts the people of Afghanistan in a positive light.
    • 4/5
      This was a really good and interesting book. The friendship between Abby and Sadeed seems a bit rushed. The ending seemed a bit empty as well. There's no resolution as to who the whiny rat was that couldn't deal with the concept of there being other religions.
    • 4/5
      Another well written “school story” which bridges the gap between Eastern and Western cultures: Abby is a lazy 6th grader, who loves rock climbing and being outdoors, anything but doing her homework. Sadeed is also 12 years old, but is the brightest student and most proficient English-speaker in his village. The two are brought together for Abby’s extra credit project so she can be promoted to 7th grade, but cultural morays and prejudices get in the way of their budding friendship.
    • 3/5
      Abby Carson finds out that if she doesn’t pull up her grades she will have to repeat sixth grade. Her social studies teacher allows her to do an extra credit assignment to help pull up her grade. Her extra credit assignment is to become a pen pal to another student in a different country. Abby Carson from Illinois becomes friends with sister and brother, Amira and Sadeed Bayat, from Afghanistan.The pen pal aspect of this story I think is what drew me to it because in my fourth grade year we had a girl in my class whose father wrote postcards to us from the road of his truck driving. I also thought it would be interesting to see how the author would make Amira and Sadeed portray their ideas to an American pen pal considering the Iraq Freedom War.Extension Ideas1. As a class pen pal to another school in a different country.2. Do a unit on the different types of landforms.
    • 5/5
      Abby Carson is flunking sixth grade. She loves P.E. because they do rock climbing, so that’s all she focuses on. When her guidance counselor sends a letter home saying she will be retained she decides to do whatever it takes to pass. She must meet “B’s” the rest of the year in all subjects and do a special project for Language Arts. Her project involves writing to a pen pal in Afghanistan. Sadeed is the best student in his village. When the letter arrives from America it is decided he will secretly help his sister write letters to Abby as it would be inappropriate for a young boy to write a young girl. Little do they know that these letters will cause controversy on both sides of the ocean. This was a great book. It gave a glimpse into the culture of those in Afghanistan. Highly recommend this to my students.
    • 4/5
      The only thing about school that interests Abby is the rock climbing wall. In the flat landscape of Illinois there aren't many places to climb. When she realizes that her poor grades will keep her in 6th grade for another year, she decides to make a change. As part of the agreement with her teachers Abby must participate in an extra credit project. She chooses a pen-pal project from the bag of ideas, when given the choice of location she selects the most mountainous. Story follows Abby and Sadeed's correspondence. Touches on the major geographic and cultural differences between the US and Afghanistan. Also shows how very much alike we are.
    • 5/5
      Sixth grader Abby Carson enters into an extra credit project that involves sending letters to a child in another country, in order to avoid failing her school year and being kept back. She chooses to write to someone in Afghanistan, mostly because it is the only country from the choices she is given that has mountains, and she is really interested in rock climbing. When Abby's first letter arrives, a boy is chosen to oversee the writing of the letter, but it is Sadeed's sister who actually gets the credit because it would not be appropriate for a boy to be writing to a girl. Of course, Abby knows none of this because she grew up in North America, but she does experience some problems of her own, which she solves in a tactful manner. I highly recommend this book to sixth grade students, especially those who love Clements other books.
    • 3/5
      I liked the protaganists, but was disappointed that nothing really seemed to have changed in the end in terms of world views. Maybe that was the point?

    Book preview

    Extra Credit - Andrew Clements

    Contents

    Chapter 1: In the Hills Above Kabul

    Chapter 2: In the Hills Above Linsdael

    Chapter 3: Worst Case

    Chapter 4: Steep Climb

    Chapter 5: The Project

    Chapter 6: Stuck Between

    Chapter 7: Word for Word

    Chapter 8: House, Barn, Fields, Woods

    Chapter 9: Abby in America

    Chapter 10: Celebrity

    Chapter 11: A Real Person

    Chapter 12: Postings

    Chapter 13: Small Mountain

    Chapter 14: Connected

    Chapter 15: Flag

    Chapter 16: Decisions

    Chapter 17: Not Stupid

    Chapter 18: Flag

    Chapter 19: Mostly Sadeed

    Chapter 20: Presentation

    Chapter 21: Field Day

    Reading Group Guide

    Troublemaker Teaser

    About Andrew Clements and Mark Elliott

    For Rick Richter

    CHAPTER 1

    IN THE HILLS ABOVE KABUL

    Sadeed knew he wasn’t supposed to be listening to the men talking in the next room. He also knew he wasn’t supposed to be peeking through the crack near the bottom of the old wooden door. But they had to be talking about him in there—why else would his teacher have invited him to the home of the headman of the village?

    His teacher, Mahmood Jafari, had not told him much. Please come to Akbar Khan’s house this afternoon at four. He and his councillors meet today, and I have to speak with them. And I may need you to be there.

    Sadeed thought perhaps his teacher was going to recommend him for a special honor. That wasn’t hard to imagine, not at all. Perhaps the village elders would award him a scholarship to one of the finest new schools in Kabul. He would wear blue trousers and a clean white shirt to classes every day, and he would have his own computer, and he would take his place as one of the future leaders of Afghanistan. His father and mother would be very proud of him. It would be a great opportunity. And Sadeed was certain he richly deserved it.

    Through the crack in the door, Sadeed could see all seven men, sitting on cushions around a low table, sipping tea. An electric bulb hung overhead, and two wires ran across the ceiling to the gasoline generator outside. Mahmood was talking to Akbar Khan, but the teacher’s back was toward the door, and Sadeed couldn’t hear what he was saying.

    When the teacher finished, someone Sadeed knew—Hassan Jaji—began to speak. Hassan stopped by his father’s shop in the village bazaar at least once a week, and he sometimes stayed awhile, telling stories about his time as a freedom fighter during the war with the Soviet Union. One day he had shown Sadeed where a Russian grenade had blown two fingers off his right hand.

    And as the man spoke now, that was the hand he used to stroke his chin.

    I am only a simple man, Hassan said, and I would never try to stop progress. But our traditions protect us. And they protect our children. And I believe that the schoolteacher has asked us to allow something that would not be proper.

    The eyes of the men turned back to Mahmood. The teacher looked around the circle and cleared his throat, speaking more forcefully now so that Sadeed could hear every word he said. What Hassan says about our traditions is certainly true.

    He paused, and Sadeed saw him hold up a bright green envelope with three stamps on it, each one a small picture of an American flag. The front of the envelope was decorated with two pink butterfly stickers.

    The teacher said, "But it is also a tradition that we are a courteous people. And therefore one student from our village school must answer this letter from the girl in America. And I believe it would be most courteous if our very best student writes back, the one student who is most skillful with the English language. And that one student is Sadeed Bayat."

    A pang of disappointment cut through Sadeed. His name had just been spoken in the ears of the most important men in this part of Panjshir Province, and why? To be recommended for a great honor? No. To write a letter. To a girl.

    Hassan stroked his chin again. He shook his head. That letter is from an American girl. And should a boy and a girl be sharing their thoughts this way? No. Let one of the girls write back. A girl would be more proper.

    And outside the door, Sadeed nodded and whispered, Exactly!

    The teacher spoke up again. To be sure, what Hassan says would be best. But the letter that goes back to America will represent our village, even our nation. And should we accept less than the very best writing, the best spelling and grammar? I know Sadeed Bayat—you may know him too, the son of Zakir the wheat merchant. He is a good boy. And his excellent writing will represent us well. His words will speak well of all the children of Afghanistan. And I feel sure that no harm will come of this. I feel sure that—

    Akbar Khan held up a hand, and Mahmood went silent.

    The headman said, Have you told Sadeed about this letter yet?

    No, said the teacher. I came to ask for advice.

    Akbar nodded. You did well to wait. The headman looked around the circle. I agree that the finest student from our village must reply. And I agree that it would be best if a girl from our school is the writer. Akbar turned to the teacher. Sadeed has a sister, doesn’t he?

    Yes, Mahmood said. Amira, about two years younger.

    The headman smiled. Just so. Amira will write back to the girl in America. And the finest student from our village will watch over her and help her, doing what is needed to be sure that the writing is excellent. But only the girl will sign the letter. And therefore, all will be proper. And, of course, our teacher promises that nothing shameful will come of this. Looking Mahmood full in the face, he said, Do you promise this?

    Mahmood nodded. I do.

    Then it is decided, said Akbar Khan. And now we will have more tea.

    Fifteen minutes later, when his teacher came out into the entry hall, Sadeed was sitting on the long wooden bench with two men who had arrived to speak before the village elders. He stood up and followed his teacher down the hallway, out the door, across the walled courtyard, and then through the iron gate that opened onto the main road.

    As they stood beside the road, Mahmood smiled and said, Thank you for coming, Sadeed. It turns out that I needn’t have bothered you. I know you need to hurry to your job now, but I must speak with you before school tomorrow morning. I need your help with an important job.

    Sadeed nodded, taking care to put a puzzled look on his face.

    So, Mahmood said. Good evening.

    And with a small, formal bow, the teacher turned right and walked toward the school, headed home. Not only did he work at the school, but he lived in a room built against the rear wall of the building.

    Sadeed turned in the other direction, headed back toward the bazaar. He worked for his father every day after school, and the shop would be open for at least another hour.

    As he walked along the road, following a large man riding on a small donkey, he thought about all he had heard. No great honors were heading his way. However, Akbar Khan himself had called him the finest student from our village. So that was good.

    And Sadeed also thought about tomorrow, about how he would have to pretend to be surprised when his teacher told him he must help Amira—just like he had pretended to be puzzled a few moments ago.

    But the only thing that actually puzzled Sadeed was how his teacher could call writing a letter to a girl in America an important job.

    Because that made no sense at all.

    CHAPTER 2

    IN THE HILLS ABOVE LINSDALE

    It was a long way down, but Abby tried not to think about it. She dug the rubber toes of her rock-climbing shoes deeper into the crevice. She tested the grip of her left hand, then arched her back and stretched her right arm above the ledge, feeling around for something she could grab onto.

    Reaching made the strap of her helmet pull tighter against her chin. A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead, gained speed, then dripped off the tip of her nose and disappeared, far, far below. One slip, one false move, and this climb would be over. The rope might save her life, but a fall would mean defeat. It would mean this mountain had beaten her. And Abby would not accept that.

    There wasn’t a breath of wind, no cries from soaring eagles, no harsh sunshine, nothing to break her total concentration. And there was nothing in her way to the summit—except this two-foot ledge, this little gray overhang, scraping against the top of her helmet.

    Her right hand found a bump overhead, a lump, and yes, there was an upside grip on it, wide enough for four fingers.

    But if she let go with her left hand, and gave up both toeholds to increase her reach, could those four fingers of her right hand hold tight? And with her feet hanging, could she hold on long enough for her left hand to reach up and find another grip? And if her left hand did find a grip, would she have the strength to pull herself higher so she could get a new foothold?

    There was only one way to find out.

    Still holding on with her left hand, Abby reached down and pushed her right hand into the chalk bag

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