Extra Credit by Andrew Clements

Extra Credit

Clements, A. (2009). Extra credit. New York City: Antheneum Books for Young Readers.

The story is told in from the perspective of an outdoorsy American girl and a boy in Afghanistan who become pen pals and learn about each others’ worlds.  As their friendship builds across cultures and distance, they also learn that the social and cultural issues around them push them apart, including the social pressures and conflicts between the two environments and gender differences in the two cultures.  This is a chapter book with a few delicate black and white pencil illustrations which demonstrate pictures from both worlds.  The book, written in English, goes back and forth between the two characters perspectives and exploring their lives and the actual written letters.  It shows different fonts for the written letters as well.  The book demonstrates that many people in Afghanistan have good families and are working towards a good life, and that only a few hate American.  I can’t be certain of the accuracy of Afghanistan life, but it all seems fairly accurate.  American life is also portrayed accurately.  There are a few characters that show distrust or distaste for the other cultures, which plays into the storyline and is also still accurate.  For example, a parent and child complain at an Afghani flag being shown in an American school because it promotes a religion, Islam; thus it’s not acceptable in school.  Another caution and area of discussion is the role of women in the cultures; in the Afghan village girls are allowed to go to school, which at some point another Afghani calls “Shameful” and threatens the village.  I would caution teachers to be aware of these and to lead discussions with the class in a sensitive manner.  This book would also be an excellent introduction to a pen-pals unit.  I recommend this book, especially since children may have had parents or relatives serve in Afghanistan, and our country is tied to theirs in so many ways. This book would also be a great introduction for pen-pal exchanges.   The book is recommended for ages 8 and up, but it is written on about a 5^th or 6^th grade level.  Therefore, I recommend that---depending on if it’s a read-aloud or an individual reading--it could be used for 3^rd-7^th grades.