Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

Synopsis

Being “left back” in 6^th grade while all her friends move on to 7^th grade is the horrible possibility facing Abby Carson. To be promoted, Abby will have to do top work on all homework and tests, and do a big extra credit assignment as well! So she gets started writing pen pal letters.  Sadeed Bayat lives in a community in the mountains of Afghanistan.  Sadeed is assigned to help his little sister Amira write the letters, but he wants to write to Abby himself.  He must do so secretly because conservative tradition dictates that it would be improper for boys and girls to write to each other.  Abby sends a handful of corn from Illinois.  Sadeed sends a particle of rock from the mountains near his village.  Despite difficulties caused by intolerant adults, a few exchanged letters enrich the lives of three young people on opposite sides of the world.

Andrew Clements writes “school stories,” and I have loved all of them that I have read.  He taught 5^th grade for many years, and his books show a real understanding of this age.  They are realistic stories of modern kids with individual problems.  Here’s a simple story with no fighting, swords, dragons, blood, magic, or epic anything, that shows real life to be warm and rich and interesting.  It brought to life the yearnings of two 12-year-olds each wanting to reach out across the world to a friend.  I would enthusiastically recommend this book to all my friends in the upper elementary years.