Amber Brown Wants Extra Credit

Written by Paula Danziger

Narrated by Dana Lubotsky

Amber Brown is in deep trouble. Lately, no matter what she does, it isn't enough. She straightens up her room--sort of. She does her homework---well, most of it. And she agrees to meet Max, her mother's new boyfriend--but she doesn't agree to like him. Now her mother is angry, her teacher wants all of her homework, and Max keeps trying to make her laugh. What's Amber to do? All she wants is a little extra credit. She really tries. . . . But how will she succeed?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
• Release date: Jul 22, 2008
• ISBN: 9780739373583

Paula Danziger

Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in New York, Paula Danziger knew since second grade that she wanted to be a writer. Beginning her career as a teacher, Danziger taught at the junior high, high school, college levels. She received her Masters Degree in reading and during that time she wrote her first bestselling novel, The Cat Ate My Gymsuit. She returned to teaching, but the success of her book encouraged her to become a full-time writer. It was non-stop for Danziger since then. Among her titles are: the enormously popular Amber Brown books as well as Remember Me To Harold Square, The Divorce Express, and Can You Sue Your Parents For Malpractice? Danziger received numerous honors, including: Parent's Choice Awards, International Reading Association - Children's Book Council Awards, a IRA-CBC Children's Choice Award and many nominations for state reading and library association awards. Known as a flamboyantly funny and deeply honest writer and speaker, Paula Danziger knew how to relate to young readers at their level. She was vital, funny, and compassionate. She knew how kids felt, what made them laugh, what they wore, collected, read, and played with. From collecting novelty toys that would make any teacher cringe, to wearing jangly earrings, funky glasses and shoes covered with beads and sequins, Paula Danziger had a direct line into kids' hearts and funnybones. She will be missed always. In Paula's memory, The Amber Brown Fund has been established to bring authors and illustrators to schools and libraries which otherwise could not afford them. Donations may be sent to The Amber Brown Fund/ SCBWI Museum of Children’s Books, 8271 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048.

Reviews for Amber Brown Wants Extra Credit

[cheryl_in_cc_nv · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not exactly the heir to Ramona Quimby, as sometimes Amber has real dark feelings inside, and sometimes she shares them. I don't clearly remember every story so I'm copying this review to each book.

[cwollan09 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Plot: 4 Stars

Review: Amber Brown is having difficulty in several areas of her life. She has to learn to deal with different situations and different people and how to accept help and care from others. This book is a good example of realistic fiction because it includes contemporary people, places, and events.

Media: Pencil

[markell08 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The reason why I gave this book a five is because I really enjoyed reading this book. This book was something that I could relate to because I had to deal with the divorce situation. This book was about Amber Brown having to deal with her parents divorce and both of her parents seeing or dating other people. Amber grades are going down because of all of this conflict with her parents. Amber Brown has to extra credit to pull her grades back up. My thoughts about this book is that this is a good example of realistic fiction. Divorce is a real thing and Amber's reactions is something that is real. This book can be use in a classroom with children because some of the students in the classroom can related to Amber and her situation. This book can teach children that in life you will go through diffcult situations like Amber Brown but you cannot let that effect what you are doing in life.

[emscape · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Amber finally meets Max, her mother's boyfriend. She wrestles with thoughts about whether liking Max is a betrayal to her dad. Finding out her dad is seeing a person named Judith is another blow to her. Amber's grades are also suffering because of these conflicts.
Amber is a very engaging and genuine character with well-realized emotions and reactions. Danziger explores difficult issues in a way young readers can relate to.

[tshrum06 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a good example of realistic fiction. Divorce is a very real thing and Amber's reaction and inability to keep up with school work because of focus issues are very real. The characters are fairly real and students who have parents with new significant others can relate to Amber and her situation.

[million_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

in this book ambers mom gets a note that amber is not paying attention in class so now she hast to do extra homework to get her grades back up and amber wants her parents to get back together because they got divorce and amber hast got to she her dad for 5 months