Super Short Summary

Extra Credit by Andrew Clements is a 2009 young adult novel about Abby Carson, a sixth-grader from Illinois, who must complete an extra credit project to pass her grade. She starts a pen pal exchange with Sadeed Bayat, a high-achieving boy from Afghanistan, who assists his sister Amira in writing letters. Through their correspondence, Abby and Sadeed form a bond, sharing personal stories and cultural insights. However, external pressures and cultural differences eventually put their correspondence at risk. The book explores themes of education, resilience, and cross-cultural understanding.