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Extra Credit Audiobook

Extra Credit Audiobook, by Andrew Clements Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Gabra Zackman Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 2.17 hours at 1.5x Speed 1.63 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: June 2009 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780743582070

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

3

Longest Chapter Length:

71:11 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

61:02 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

66:19 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

27

Publisher 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.

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"This is an enlightening read about the cultural differences between Americans and Afghanistanis. Young people will learn to value the liberties our country affords us as well as gain an appreciation of the natural beauty and some cultural aspects of the Middle East through correspondences between Abbey and Shaba in Abbey's attempt to graduate sixth grade. As the plot progresses ignorant and narrow minded remarks are made on behalf of opposition to each culture, but readers will hopefully walk away from this read with a viewpoint that their are pros and cons to every society."

— Kesha (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “This is an important book, especially in the atmosphere of general distrust of foreigners here and throughout the world. Clements is a fine writer and captures teenage angst well...This book is very well done!” 

    — Children’s Literature
  • “Clements successfully bridges two cultures in this timely and insightful dual-perspective story...Clements effectively broadens his canvas in this worthy addition to his oeuvre of school-themed novels.”

    — Publishers Weekly
  • “As she quietly depicts each child’s life, thoughts, and letters, Zackman allows listeners to draw their own insights about culture, gender, and personal values, including the question of what an education is worth.”

    — AudioFile
  • “Clements offers readers an engaging and realistic school story and provides an evenhanded comparison between a Midwestern girl’s lifestyle and a culture currently in the news.”

    — School Library Journal

Awards

  • Part of the Beehive Award Master List

Extra Credit Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.8181818181818183 out of 53.8181818181818183 out of 53.8181818181818183 out of 53.8181818181818183 out of 53.8181818181818183 out of 5 (3.82)
5 Stars: 7
4 Stars: 15
3 Stars: 9
2 Stars: 2
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 (4.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 1
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 (4.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 1
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Story Rating: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    — Marianne parkinson, 11/10/2016
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Excellent! Great information about writing pen pal letters, and interesting information about Afghanastan "

    — Victoria, 2/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Very well done, as usual, by Andrew Clements. Acceptable (PC)information about Afghanistan and the way people live in small villages there. The very bright youngsters, Sadeed and Abby manage to outwit their elders and learn quite a bit about each others' feelings even though correspondence between and boy and a girl is forbidden. Those kids who have always thought it great to have a Pen Pal from a foreign country will definitely want to have one after reading this book. "

    — Virginia, 2/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Andrew Clements always does a great job of creating stories that school-aged children can identify with. I liked how he created this common ground between two students who were from very different places that were at war with one another. This novel of Clements' is great for the classroom because it can be integrated into an intercultural lesson and can bring about some great discussion about people of other cultures. "

    — Monika, 2/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Excellent. I love this author. His books are so smart and unexpected. I also love that they are short. His characters are interesting people there aren't just everything is all fixed and happy endings. "

    — Child960801, 2/7/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I enjoyed this book - a quick read. I'll probably use it as a read aloud next school year. "

    — Kristin, 2/3/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Good premise but not much substance. Clements brings up the issues of discrimination, violence, tolerance and gender roles but none are well developed in this book about a pen pal correspondence between Abby in Illinois and Amira and her brother Sadeed in Afghanistan. The quick pace and familiar author would make this a popular choice for kids' book reports. "

    — Catherine, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Would generate some good classroom discussion on tolerance. "

    — Karen, 1/25/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " good book. have grace read it. deals with her need to do extra credit because she slacked and may not pass 6th grade--and her adventure in meeting someone from another country as a penpal. great. "

    — Christi, 1/23/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Through a required extra credit penpal assignment, Abby learns of the similarities and differences of life in Afgahnistan. "

    — Judy, 1/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " It was OK for a young adult book. I knew how it was going to end on page 20. "

    — Amber, 12/31/2013

About Andrew Clements

Andrew Clements is the author of the enormously successful children’s novel Frindle. He has won two Christopher Awards and an Edgar Award, and more than ten million of his books are in print. His popular works include About Average, Troublemaker, Extra Credit, and others. Clements is a graduate of Northwestern and National Louis universities, and he currently lives in central Massachusetts with his wife.

About Gabra Zackman

Gabra Zackman is an actress, author, and narrator who has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards. She was educated at Northwestern University. A classically trained actress, she has appeared in theaters all over the country as well as on film and television.