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Amber Brown #4
Amber Brown Wants Extra Credit
Amber Brown is in deep trouble. Lately, no matter what she does, it isn't enough. She straightens up her room, sort of. She does her homework, well, most of it. And she agrees to meet Max, her mother's new boyfriend, but she doesn't agree to like him.
Now her mother is angry, her teacher wants all of her homework, and Max keeps trying to make her laugh. What's Amber to do? All she wants is a little extra credit. She really tries... But how will she succeed?
Now her mother is angry, her teacher wants all of her homework, and Max keeps trying to make her laugh. What's Amber to do? All she wants is a little extra credit. She really tries... But how will she succeed?
120 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 1996
35 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
About the author
Paula Danziger
116 books351 followersPaula Danziger was an American children's author. She wrote more than 30 books, including her 1974 debut The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, for children's and young adult audiences. At the time of her death, all her books were still in print; they had been published in 53 countries and translated into 14 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
May 19, 2021
دو سال پیش دقیقا توی همین روز،با پولی که بابا جون (پدربزرگم (✷‿✷)) برای خرید خوراکی بهم داده بود این کتاب رو خریدم و خوندم:)))
حسم رو بعد خوندنش یادم نمیاد
اما امروز که دوباره خوندمش بعد از مدتها با یه کتاب از ته دل اشک ریختم
نمیدونم درباره طلاق پدر و مادرا چی باید بگم
ولی کاش اگر از دوست داشتنِ هم مطمئن نیستید،هیچوقت بچهدار نشید،همین💔
پ.ن:بابا جون دو سال پیش این موقع با ذوق به منِ 12 ساله نگاه کرد و گفت اگر خوراکی میخریدی همین امروز تموم میشد،اما کتاب برات میمونه.
راست میگفت،کتاب تنها چیزیه که از دو سال پیش بدونِ تغییر برام مونده:')♡
1400/2/29
9:02 PM
حسم رو بعد خوندنش یادم نمیاد
اما امروز که دوباره خوندمش بعد از مدتها با یه کتاب از ته دل اشک ریختم
نمیدونم درباره طلاق پدر و مادرا چی باید بگم
ولی کاش اگر از دوست داشتنِ هم مطمئن نیستید،هیچوقت بچهدار نشید،همین💔
پ.ن:بابا جون دو سال پیش این موقع با ذوق به منِ 12 ساله نگاه کرد و گفت اگر خوراکی میخریدی همین امروز تموم میشد،اما کتاب برات میمونه.
راست میگفت،کتاب تنها چیزیه که از دو سال پیش بدونِ تغییر برام مونده:')♡
1400/2/29
9:02 PM
May 9, 2018
So as of this week, DS#1 (age 7)'s school has noticed his attempts to tackle a three hundred page biography of Patton and is giving him take-home books written above the "Hop on Pop" level. This was one of them. I already miss the Hop-on-Pops.
First person novel, somewhere in the middle of the series but seems sufficiently stand-alone. Amber Brown's parents are divorced and dating others seriously. Her father lives in France and seldom, if ever, sees her. Amber's mother wants her to like the mother's boyfriend of a few months (wut?) Amber whines and mopes a lot about this and everything else.
It's all very bleah (though possibly therapeutic to Danziger, who seems to have had an unhappy childhood.) Some girls may be into the material, but very few boys, if any. Which is just as well, because DS#1 whines and mopes enough as it is. That's in addition to his anxiousness; I'd prefer my worrywart not add worrying about parental splits and abandonment to his list. "Amber Brown Wants Extra Credit" will float back to school unread by its target.
First person novel, somewhere in the middle of the series but seems sufficiently stand-alone. Amber Brown's parents are divorced and dating others seriously. Her father lives in France and seldom, if ever, sees her. Amber's mother wants her to like the mother's boyfriend of a few months (wut?) Amber whines and mopes a lot about this and everything else.
It's all very bleah (though possibly therapeutic to Danziger, who seems to have had an unhappy childhood.) Some girls may be into the material, but very few boys, if any. Which is just as well, because DS#1 whines and mopes enough as it is. That's in addition to his anxiousness; I'd prefer my worrywart not add worrying about parental splits and abandonment to his list. "Amber Brown Wants Extra Credit" will float back to school unread by its target.
January 1, 2024
I have arranged my takeaway thoughts into a haiku, as is my way:
"Messes tend to grow.
And as one, or two, get fixed,
More grow out of sight."
"Messes tend to grow.
And as one, or two, get fixed,
More grow out of sight."
June 16, 2015
From Refracted Light's Middle Grade Monday feature:
What was the book about (without giving away what happens)?
The book is about a girl who meets her mom’s boyfriend. (The girl’s parents are divorced.) And she has to do a brownie project for school for extra credit.
Did you enjoy this story? Why?
I enjoyed this story because I like the Amber Brown series. I don’t know why. I just like it.
Oh! And I liked when Howie does funny things with his sister’s Barbies. Like when he sticks Barbie in his sister’s lunch box. Lunch Meat Barbie!
Was there a particular character that you liked the most?
I love Amber Brown because she’s funny and is a good friend.
Which character did you like the least?
There was no character that I liked the least.
Was there anything about the story that you didn’t like or that confused you?
There was nothing about the story that confused me.
Did you learn anything from this book? Was there a moral to this story?
I learned that there are a lot of kinds of brownies. Like brownies with gummy worms, candy corn, M&Ms and tuna fish.
Did you like the way the book ended?
Yes. It made me happy.
Do you like the cover?
Yes. I love the picture and the colors.
Would you recommend this book to your friends?
I recommend this book to people who love Amber Brown and brownies.
Draw a picture of something from the book, that does not reveal the ending.
What was the book about (without giving away what happens)?
The book is about a girl who meets her mom’s boyfriend. (The girl’s parents are divorced.) And she has to do a brownie project for school for extra credit.
Did you enjoy this story? Why?
I enjoyed this story because I like the Amber Brown series. I don’t know why. I just like it.
Oh! And I liked when Howie does funny things with his sister’s Barbies. Like when he sticks Barbie in his sister’s lunch box. Lunch Meat Barbie!
Was there a particular character that you liked the most?
I love Amber Brown because she’s funny and is a good friend.
Which character did you like the least?
There was no character that I liked the least.
Was there anything about the story that you didn’t like or that confused you?
There was nothing about the story that confused me.
Did you learn anything from this book? Was there a moral to this story?
I learned that there are a lot of kinds of brownies. Like brownies with gummy worms, candy corn, M&Ms and tuna fish.
Did you like the way the book ended?
Yes. It made me happy.
Do you like the cover?
Yes. I love the picture and the colors.
Would you recommend this book to your friends?
I recommend this book to people who love Amber Brown and brownies.
Draw a picture of something from the book, that does not reveal the ending.
September 10, 2017
My kiddo that I am tutoring at the University of Utah Reading Clinic for my Assessment and Intervention Grad School class is reading this book. I read it so we can be on the same page...literally. Cute book!
July 10, 2010
Great for Kids. Amber deals with so much in this single book. Her parents divorce, Friend moves away, her mother meeting someone new that she fears will replace her father, her father meeting new people as well, and above all that her school work is slipping. It's sad to see that she still has hopes that her parents will get back together. However, she is taking the news (in my opinion) pretty harshly. But I believe this book also shows that kids don't really open up to their parents or she would've had this whole ordeal worked out. Overall, nice book.
April 7, 2015
Amber Brown's parent'a divorce is taking a toll on her, it's even affecting her school work. She's forced to adjust to change and learns that change is life and she has to roll with the punches,
May 16, 2018
For my book, I read Amber Brown Wants Extra Credit. This book is about a girl named Amber Brown who is in a lot of trouble with her mother. She is in trouble because her room is messy and she got a bad note from her teacher. So to make her mom happy she does things around the house for her. She also tries to get her mom to not date someone. Will she succeed in her quest?
I really loved the sense of humor the author put into this book because it was really funny The book is very childish and reminds of when my dad wouldn't let me out of my room until it was spotless. I loved how she tried to help her mom in every way possible so that she wouldn't be mad anymore because that is exactly what I do. One thing I didn't like was that she tried to break her mom apart from her boyfriend because that is really stupid if you don't like someone doesn't mean you get to try and break them apart.
I would recommend this book to people who want an easy read. Or if they aren't very good at reading this is an easy read. I would recommend it to these kinds of people because of the words are very large and easy to see. Also, it is fairly short so it shouldn't take that long to read.
I really loved the sense of humor the author put into this book because it was really funny The book is very childish and reminds of when my dad wouldn't let me out of my room until it was spotless. I loved how she tried to help her mom in every way possible so that she wouldn't be mad anymore because that is exactly what I do. One thing I didn't like was that she tried to break her mom apart from her boyfriend because that is really stupid if you don't like someone doesn't mean you get to try and break them apart.
I would recommend this book to people who want an easy read. Or if they aren't very good at reading this is an easy read. I would recommend it to these kinds of people because of the words are very large and easy to see. Also, it is fairly short so it shouldn't take that long to read.
April 10, 2019
Es un libro bonito... pero no me hizo sentir lo mismo.
Lo admito, Brenda es buena onda y todo, pero extraño la amistad de Ámbar y Justo, ¡ni siquiera ha recibido una carta!
En este libro vemos como el personaje de Ámbar va creciendo, como tiene que aprender que las cosas no siempre son como queremos y que a veces es mejor aceptar los cambios, puesto que ocurrirán queramos o no.
A través de un libro infantil se nos muestra situaciones cotidianas y como las niñas y niños podrían enfrentarlas. Al final del día no podemos olvidar que ellos no ven el mundo como nosotros.
Ámbar tiene que aprender a vivir sin su padre, aceptar que sus padres ya no están casados y que además su madre está rehaciendo su vida. Como si eso fuera poco, no deja de pensar en su querido Justo, su amigo del alma, tan único e irreemplazable.
A los nueve años y me atrevería a decir que a cualquier edad, es difícil aceptar tanta perdida.
Retomando la historia, el libro es liviano, corto y tierno, sin embargo no me gustó tanto como el anterior. Aunque no niego, que quiero leer todos los libros de la graciosa Ámbar Dorado.
Lo admito, Brenda es buena onda y todo, pero extraño la amistad de Ámbar y Justo, ¡ni siquiera ha recibido una carta!
En este libro vemos como el personaje de Ámbar va creciendo, como tiene que aprender que las cosas no siempre son como queremos y que a veces es mejor aceptar los cambios, puesto que ocurrirán queramos o no.
A través de un libro infantil se nos muestra situaciones cotidianas y como las niñas y niños podrían enfrentarlas. Al final del día no podemos olvidar que ellos no ven el mundo como nosotros.
Ámbar tiene que aprender a vivir sin su padre, aceptar que sus padres ya no están casados y que además su madre está rehaciendo su vida. Como si eso fuera poco, no deja de pensar en su querido Justo, su amigo del alma, tan único e irreemplazable.
A los nueve años y me atrevería a decir que a cualquier edad, es difícil aceptar tanta perdida.
Retomando la historia, el libro es liviano, corto y tierno, sin embargo no me gustó tanto como el anterior. Aunque no niego, que quiero leer todos los libros de la graciosa Ámbar Dorado.
June 29, 2023
I've been a long-time fan of Amber Brown books since I was child - I remember reading the spanish versions of "Amber Brown is not a Crayon" and "Amber Brown goes Fourth" for school as a kid. I thought they were charming, so when the local library at my metro had a copy of this book available, I couldn't help myself!
As always, Danzinger's writing shines through the portrayal of mundane situations and harsh realities that children must face. Amber definitely reminds me to children I've met, and I can only imagine how hard it was for her to meet her mother's boyfriend, given that she was always held hope her parents will get back together. It's relatable and a little bittersweet in certain passages, yet it keeps a familiar optimistic tone in Amber's narration. It's lovely to read how she's progressed through the series - and I had no idea we'd eventually meet Max! Interesting in how Danzinger handled it through the lens of a colorful child's mind. Charmingly written, and coupled with Ross' illustrations, it add even more childlike wonder to the book, the simplistic yet cute art style suits the book's atmosphere excellently!
As always, Danzinger's writing shines through the portrayal of mundane situations and harsh realities that children must face. Amber definitely reminds me to children I've met, and I can only imagine how hard it was for her to meet her mother's boyfriend, given that she was always held hope her parents will get back together. It's relatable and a little bittersweet in certain passages, yet it keeps a familiar optimistic tone in Amber's narration. It's lovely to read how she's progressed through the series - and I had no idea we'd eventually meet Max! Interesting in how Danzinger handled it through the lens of a colorful child's mind. Charmingly written, and coupled with Ross' illustrations, it add even more childlike wonder to the book, the simplistic yet cute art style suits the book's atmosphere excellently!
April 13, 2023
I liked this book better than the last one and mostly listened to it on audio. If you decide to go the audiobook route, be aware that the narrator has changed, which can be a bit jarring since we’re four books in. I haven’t yet decided if I’m going to stick with the audiobooks or not, though they are done by a narrator who sounds closer to Amber’s age than the last one.
Anyway, this book explores Amber’s begrudging relationship with her mother’s new boyfriend, Max, and the struggles she faces with the fourth grade. I was surprised at the depth and complexity of Amber’s feelings towards the situation with her mother and Max, and later on with her father. As a child of divorce, it can be difficult to come to terms with the idea of a new person in your life that may eventually become a parental figure.
The scene with the brownies was cute and I could feel Amber’s anger when she talks to her father at the end of the book. Honestly, this one ranks up there with the second book. I could see it being extremely helpful for children in the same/similar situation as Amber.
Anyway, this book explores Amber’s begrudging relationship with her mother’s new boyfriend, Max, and the struggles she faces with the fourth grade. I was surprised at the depth and complexity of Amber’s feelings towards the situation with her mother and Max, and later on with her father. As a child of divorce, it can be difficult to come to terms with the idea of a new person in your life that may eventually become a parental figure.
The scene with the brownies was cute and I could feel Amber’s anger when she talks to her father at the end of the book. Honestly, this one ranks up there with the second book. I could see it being extremely helpful for children in the same/similar situation as Amber.
March 8, 2024
She seriously plagiarized the "we must increase our bust" chant from Judy Blume.
And the mother begging her child to make her life easier after telling her some kids go away to their other parent so they get time to themselves... wtf? Lady last book you decreed she couldn't live with her father. I mean the terrible, childish parenting checks out but geeze...
I'd like to think the rest of the book is the mother growing up and being a better parent but somehow I just know that isn't the case... the mother and father being a little emotionally immature the last book was obvious but this is something else. I guess the moral of this one is hey kids you have to emotionally regulate for your parents. They haven't even sat down with her to explain why it's happening and why they are not getting back together. They just brush her off and tell her it isn't going to happen and lean into their own uncomft about the subject when it comes to her.
How did this book get approval and the editing process??
And the mother begging her child to make her life easier after telling her some kids go away to their other parent so they get time to themselves... wtf? Lady last book you decreed she couldn't live with her father. I mean the terrible, childish parenting checks out but geeze...
I'd like to think the rest of the book is the mother growing up and being a better parent but somehow I just know that isn't the case... the mother and father being a little emotionally immature the last book was obvious but this is something else. I guess the moral of this one is hey kids you have to emotionally regulate for your parents. They haven't even sat down with her to explain why it's happening and why they are not getting back together. They just brush her off and tell her it isn't going to happen and lean into their own uncomft about the subject when it comes to her.
How did this book get approval and the editing process??
February 11, 2025
Amber navigates the complexities of her parent’s divorce and her mom moving on with a new boyfriend. Jealousy, fear of hurting feelings, loyalty to the other parent, and seeing her mom hugging and kissing another person all come into play. Some of it is excruciating, but some is fun and sweet like when Amber and her mom’s boyfriend go grocery shopping and bake brownies for a school project. Some of the language is dated.
November 29, 2017
Read this with my youngest daughter. She absolutely loved it. She laughed throughout the book and cannot wait to read more. Amber is a good character and has a lot to handle in this book. I had to explain a bit about divorce to my daughter, but otherwise she understood what was going on and wants to make brownies now.
June 3, 2018
better than i expected and timely for me. my niece is adjusting to a new step mother and i think this series will be good for her. i love that the teacher holds her accountable aaand doesn't let her do extra credit. i love that max has a good come to jesus talk with her. and i love that both parents are moving on.
September 13, 2020
I had to wait for a while at the town's paint drop off day, and this was the only book I had in the car (destined for a little free library). I read half of it then, and found it engrossing enough that I had to finish it once I was home again, hence four stars.
October 29, 2020
Amber feels like she can never be satisfied or satisfy the people around her. She has to constantly give more and more. Amber comes to realize that putting in the work and trying gives positive outcomes and she becomes happier.
Read
October 16, 2023Amber has to do her homework but never does it. She meets her moms new boyfriend but doesn't like him. The teacher has talked to her mom about her missing homework and she is mad. Ambers boyfriend is helping her stay on track. This could be a climax change how it starts what the climax is.
June 29, 2017
This is a book i remember owning AMD loving as a young child after getting it at a Scholastic Book Fair.
It is a lot more deep and real and personal than I remember.
Still love it!
It is a lot more deep and real and personal than I remember.
Still love it!
October 4, 2018
It is so good so fear I got to the part when Max and Amber played a game in a stroybrownys then Ambers mom came It is so good
October 14, 2019
Nothing as calming as a children's book to put you to sleep. So happy!
Read
June 8, 2020خوندنش تو بچگی دربارهی بچهای که پدر و مادرش طلاق گرفته بودن خوشحالم کرد.
September 19, 2020
I think a lot of kids this age would be able to relate to the story.
February 22, 2022
my all time fav book of the series, the book of my childhood<3
May 25, 2024
I don’t think I’ve related to a children’s book more. This was a toughie but definitely a goodie. Love.
September 10, 2024
My 9 year old and I have been reading a chapter or two of this every day after school. She rated it 4 stars because she said she really liked it but it wasn’t the best she’s ever read.
January 17, 2025
Es un desastre. ¿Porque la vida tiene que cambiar?
December 13, 2010
This is another good book in the Amber Brown series. Unfortunately, we've read a bunch of these books out of order - I wish they were labeled a little better to help figure out what order they are in. We figured it out mostly based on publication date and book groupings, but we've gone back and forth in time with this character more than we'd like. Oh well, in any case, the stories are good and the character is so engaging. We've enjoyed watching Amber get older and become more independent. We've agonized over her traumatic family breakup and her best friend moving away. And we've cheered for her to succeed at her latest project - our girls would love to copy her Amber Brownies idea. We only have a few books left in the series and we look forward to reading them soon.
March 25, 2012
I chose this book because I thought it was going to be about school and how she wasn't able to get extra credit but I was wrong. The plot is that her parents divorce and they are both seeing different people. She is not so happy about that. "He is not my dad! He is my friend." I like this because her moms boyfriend is being confused with her father and she doesn't like it but she gives him a chance as a friend. I thought the style was great because it had lots of emotions. Yes, I would recommend this book to whoever likes drama because this book has alot of drama.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews