Extra Credit

Extra Credit

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3.76 of 5 stars 3.76  ·  rating details  ·  3,169 ratings  ·  348 reviews
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 schoo...more
Hardcover, 183 pages
Published June 23rd 2009 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers (first published June 1st 2009)
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Catching Fire by Suzanne CollinsWhen You Reach Me by Rebecca SteadThe Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline KellyThe Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamilloWhere the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Newbery 2010
41st out of 104 books — 456 voters
The Magic of Finkleton by K.C. HiltonHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingHoles by Louis SacharHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. RowlingHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Books for eleven-year-old children
102nd out of 346 books — 208 voters


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Community Reviews

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Abby Johnson
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 lif...more
Susie
I've always liked Clements' books, but was really impressed with this one. Some things I liked about it:
1)It effectively portrays a student who doesn't really care to do her work; it's not that she can't, she just doesn't want to. I think I have many students who could relate to this. I expected the stereotypical "never really learned how to read", but that wasn't it.
2) There are caring parents and teachers. (Sure, the dad is a bit gruff at times, but that's probably realistic.)
3) Kids can learn...more
Brian Dansby
Andrew Clement's book "Extra Credit" taught how to appreciate who you are, where you are, and what you have. The special project that was used is one that is hands-on at learning about culture and acceptance. These two kids learned each other's languages, rules of the countries, about each other's families and the fact that although they were different, there was a similarity. This would be a good book for anyone having problems with accepting others because how you treat others is a reflection...more
Melissa Foley
Abby Carson is failing the sixth grade. In order to pass, she must do an extra credit assignment that requires her to write letters to a pen pal named Amira from Afghanistan. The only thing is, is that Amira is really Sadeed; Amira's older brother. In Sadeed's village it is forbidden that unmarried boys write letters to unmarried girls. As Abby and Sadeed learn about each other's culture, they fast become friends, and Abby is able to complete her extra credit. But as their friendship flourishes,...more
IndyPL Kids Book Blog
Abby doesn’t like homework much. She thinks she’s doing just enough to get by until she gets called into the principal’s office and learns that she has fallen below “get by” and is in danger of having to repeat sixth grade.

It’s February. In order to pass, Abby has to get a B or better on EVERY assignment and test in EVERY subject. For extra credit, she has to write a pen pal in another country, make a bulletin board display of the letters and do an oral report on the experience in front of her c...more
Librarianforhim
Plot: Abby Carson is in danger of being held back in the 6th grade. As part of an extra credit assignment she writes to a pen pal in Afghanistan. Amira is the girl who receives Abby's letters, but it's her brother who handles writing back even though it's not considered proper by the men of the village for a boy to write to a girl. Abby's growing friendship with Amira and her brother Sadeed must come to a quick end when it becomes unsafe for the village to receive letters from America.

Why I pick...more
Ms.walker
Abbey- I would recommend this book because it is very interesting how a student is going to fail sixth grade but learns she has some way to go to seventh grade and that is extra credit. Abby Carson (main character)has never even heard of extra credit so she get's worried... But Abby's teacher assigns her a project to have a pen pal in a foreign country. She has 3 options. Kabul Afghanistan,Jakarta Indonesia and Beijing China. She chose Kabul Afghanistan. Her pen pal was a boy named Sadeed Bayat....more
Phoebe
Abby is failing 6th grade, and after a meeting with the principal, learns that in order to go on to 7th grade, she must get Bs or better on her homework, and complete an extra credit project: write to a pen pal in a foreign country. She picks Afghanistan, because it has big mountains, and she loves to rock climb. Her new pen pal is a 10 year old girl called Amira, who lives outside of Kabul. What Abby doesn't know is that Amira's older brother, Sadeed, is the one who is really writing the letter...more
Ruth
Abby Carson hasn't done well in school and might have to repeat sixth grade is she doesn't bring up her grades and do an extra credit project. The project is a penpal exchange with a student in Afghanistan.
She writes and gets a letter in return. It is supposedly from a girl, but in fact she's helped by her able brother who is two years older and the best student in the school. He couldn't write directly because the culture deems an exchange between 12-year-olds of the oppposite sex inappropriat...more
Heidi
Abby Carson has perfected the art of homework avoidance. It's not that she can't do it, she just finds other things more enticing. She discovers to her shock, however, that unless she can make up some of the missing work, she will be held back a year. Abby finds herself working on a project involving a pen pal from Afghanistan.


Sadeed loves his schoolwork and is the best student in his class, but he cannot correspond with Abby directly, because she is a girl. His younger sister is given the task...more
Brenda Young
It isn't that Abby Carson can't do her schoolwork, it's just that she doesn't like doing it. And that means she's pretty much failing sixth grade. When a warning letter is sent home, Abby realizes that all her slacking off could cause her to be held back -- for real! Unless she wants to repeat the sixth grade, she'll have to meet some specific conditions, including taking on an extra-credit project: find a pen pal in a foreign country. Simple enough (even for a girl who hates homework).
Abby's fi...more
Annr
Extra Credit
Andrew Clements
Antheneum Books
Imprint of Simon & Schuster
2009
ISBN: 978-1-4169 -4929-9
183 pp.
illustrated by Mark Elliott
cover illustration: Brian Selznick

I have always felt fortunate that, in his early years of writing, Andrew Clements accepted my invitation to be the author in residence at the elementary school in which I was the library teacher. The week was glorious. He talked about Frindle and Big Al with various classes as well as an after school program and then held writing...more
Lisa
Publisher Summary 2
Provides the story of a special friendship that forms between an American girl in Illinois, an Afghani girl who cannot write, and her brother who isn't allowed to communicate with girls as letters are sent and received, rules are broken, and bonds are made through their new understanding of the world and their place in it.


Publishers Weekly Reviews
Clements (Frindle) successfully bridges two cultures in this timely and insightful dual-perspective story. When Abby learns that...more
Sam
It isn't that Abby Carson can't do her schoolwork, it's just that she doesn't like doing it. And that means she's pretty much failing sixth grade. When a warning letter is sent home, Abby realizes that all her slacking off could cause her to be held back -- for real! Unless she wants to repeat the sixth grade, she'll have to meet some specific conditions, including taking on an extra-credit project: find a pen pal in a foreign country. Simple enough (even for a girl who hates homework).
Abby's fi...more
Jo Sorrell
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, includ...more
Josiah
Andrew Clements is one of those authors who can slip by you and go unnoticed, if you let that happen. His books usually don't get a lot of vocal support in Newbery discussions, but they do get read by a large number of younger readers. His stories all have a good, loyal following among grade schoolers, and with the introduction of Extra Credit in 2009 I was intrigued to hear, really for the first time, Newbery talk about an Andrew Clements book.

I can see why this book would receive the praise t...more
Jill
Jun 13, 2011 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Jill by: 2012 Rebecca Caudill list
First Caudill book of the summer!!!

This book was about something near and dear to my heart - overseas pen pals! The story is about a girl in Illinois (yeah!) who gets an assignment to write to a child in Kabul, Afghanistan. Over the course of the book, we learn a lot about Muslim culture, the conservative feelings that go along with it sometimes, and the prejudices both Afghanistan and the United States have about each other.

I think the author covered his bases really well. Had I not known most...more
jessica wilson
I have to say I am quite fond of Andrew Clements. I have yet to read one of his books that I didn't like. This one was just as delightful as the rest. Maybe I best relate to the twelve year olds of his world?

Last night I began reading and as I crawled into bed to finish up the chapter I was on I found myself turning page after page until I was done. Finished! I finished the whole book in one reading. I know it is a kids book and all but the story was sweet, and telling. Andrew Clements has a way...more
Kelly
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Alyssa Calhoun
Abby is failing 6th grade. She's not too worried, after all, she's been in this position before in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. However, when her principal tells her they are considering making her repeat the 6th grade, she decides something must be done. She begins studying and doing all of her homework. Her teacher allows her to do an extra credit assignment: she will be pen pals with a student her age in Afghanistan. She will write letters and then post them on a bulletin board, and at the end of...more
Tamara the Librarian
Great book. Pen pals Abby and Sadid -- she has to do extra credit project to help pass 6th grade because she doesn't apply herself, do all her hw, etc. She writes a student in Afghanistan b/c she loves rock climbing in gym and learns there are huge mountains in Afghan. Sadid's sister, Amirah, is chosen to write back b/c she is a girl so it is proper-- and Sadid can help b/c he is older and fluent in English. Friendship blooms across the seas-- but abruptly ends when a man from outside Sadid's vi...more
Dana Davis-avants
Addy Carson is about to fail the sixth grade when her teachers offer her a chance to pass and part of the contract involves an extra credit project. The extra credit project forces her to draw a project from an extra credit box. Her project involves writing to a pen pal in another country, creating a bulletin board in her classroom with the letters and making a presentation to her class at the end of the project. She chooses the country of Afghanistan for her pen pal, because it has mountains. S...more
Karin
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Erin
Abby Carson is failing the sixth grade because she hates doing homework. Faced with the threat of being held back, she decides to not only starting doing ALL of her homework but also take on a big extra credit project: write letters to a pen pal halfway around the world, post them on a bulletin board, and do a class presentation at the end of the year.

Sadeed Bayat is the best student in his village in Afghanistan, but it's not proper for a boy to write to a girl, so his little sister is chosen t...more
NicolePeguin
this book was great. its about a sixth grade girl, named Abby Carson who doesnt do her homework and flunks exams. When she is told that if she won't improve her homework and exams, she wont be promoted to seventh grade. so she has to do a special assignment, which was to write letters to a student in another country. she chooses afghanistan, and she is writing to a boy named sadeed. but the authorities at afghanistan dont want a boy communicating with a girl, so his little sister writes them ins...more
Miss. Belisle
What would you do to keep from being "held back" and watching your friends move on to junior high as you repeated the 6th grade? Abby has always coasted along in school, but that plan won't work anymore. She has just a few months to bring all of her grades up, finish ALL of her homework, and complete an extra credit assignment. BORING.

Sadeed has always been one of the top students in his class, but now his teacher wants him to help his little sister answer letters from a girl in America. It woul...more
Stacy Ford
Abby lives in Illinois. Sadeed lives north of Kabul, Afghanistan. Abby is a lackadaisical student. Sadeed is a hard working student working for a high school scholarship. Abby is at risk of being held back. Sadeed is the best student in his village school. These two couldn't be more different.

Abby's teachers arrange for an extra credit, pen pal exchange and she picks Afghanistan because it has mountains and she LOVES rock climbing. So, she embarks on the project, reluctatnt at first, but finds h...more
M.
Abby, in Illinois, is going to fail 6th grade unless she gets her grades up and "volunteers" for an extra credit project--becoming a pen pal to a child in Afghanistan. Sadeed, in Afghanistan, is the best English student in the village but it's judged inappropriate for a boy to write a girl so the letters must come from his younger sister, Amira. Unfortunately Amira knows virtually no English and, perhaps because she is younger, has much less perception into the lives she and her brother are livi...more
Gregg
I liked the idea of this book. Two kids from very different cultures connect as pen pals, learn a bit about another part of the world very different from their own, and in doing so begin to see their own little worlds in a new way. I just felt like it could have delved in deeper to some of the potential conflicts and issues. Was there ever even any mention of the fact that U.S. soldiers were in Afghanistan fighting a war? There were certainly references to fighting in Afghanistan, but I don't re...more
babyhippoface
Another solid story from Andrew Clements.

Abby would rather be outside rock-climbing than doing schoolwork, and now that attitude is catching up with her: all her missing assignment mean that, unless she makes some BIG changes, she'll be repeating 6th grade next year. For the first time, she decides to buckle down and do absolutely every assignment asked of her, as well as an extra-credit project--it's the only way she'll make it to 7th grade next year.

Her project: correspond with a student from...more
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63095
I was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1949 and lived in Oaklyn and Cherry Hill until the middle of sixth grade. Then we moved to Springfield, Illinois. My parents were avid readers and they gave that love of books and reading to me and to all my brothers and sisters. I didn’t think about being a writer at all back then, but I did love to read. I'm certain there's a link between reading good books an...more
More about Andrew Clements...
Frindle Things Not Seen (Things, #1) No Talking The Report Card The School Story

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