Extra Credit by Andrew Clements

Published: New York: Anthem Books, 2009

183 pages

Target Audience: ages 8-12

Reading level: 5.3

Genre: Multicultural

Themes: Friendship, Middle East

Synopsis: As letters flow back and forth, between the prairies of Illinois and the mountains of Afghanistan, across cultural and religious divides, sixth-grader Abby, ten-year-old Amira, and eleven-year-old Sadeed begin to speak and listen to each other.

CHARACTER:****

PLOT:****

THEME:****

LANGUAGE:****

OVERALL RATING:****

This captivating story will pull readers quickly through the pages with curiosity and intrigue. Many will relate strongly to the colorful character of Abby, with her love of outdoor activities and hatred of homework. Abby just may be able to inspire a new interest in learning.

About the author: Andrew Clements

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=2883

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

Published: New York: Scholastic, 2007
341 pages
Target Audience: ages 9-12
Reading level: 7.8
Genre: Multicultural
Themes: Courage, Honor, Slavery

Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Elijah lives in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves near the American border. He's the first child in town to be born free, and he ought to be famous just for that. Unfortunately, all that most people see is a "fra-gile" boy who's scared of snakes and talks too much. But everything changes when a former slave steals money from Elijah's friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Now it's up to Elijah to track down the thief--and his dangerous journey just might make a hero out of him, if only he can find the courage to get back home.
Newberry Honor 2008

CHARACTER: ****
PLOT: ***
THEME:***
LANGUAGE: **
OVERALL RATING: ***
This story includes a role model in Elijah as he shows compassion for others and bravery in the face of violence towards other slaves. It contains an important examination of slavery and its effects. This book is appropriate for the older elementary student with some violence towards slaves, language and a boy smoking a cigar. The reader will be drawn to the book through its humor and will find themselves at times on the edges of their seats in suspense and, at other moments, moved to tears.

About the author: Christopher Paul Curtis
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3261