And Sadeed was certain he richly deserved it. His father and mother would be very proud of him. He would wear blue trousers and a clean white shirt to classes every day, and he would have his own computer, and he would take his place as one of the future leaders of Afghanistan. Perhaps the village elders would award him a scholarship to one of the finest new schools in Kabul. Sadeed thought perhaps his teacher was going to recommend him for a special honor. He and his councillors meet today, and I have to speak with them. “Please come to Akbar Khan’s house this afternoon at four. His teacher, Mahmood Jafari, had not told him much.

But they had to be talking about him in there-why else would his teacher have invited him to the home of the headman of the village? He also knew he wasn’t supposed to be peeking through the crack near the bottom of the old wooden door. Sadeed knew he wasn’t supposed to be listening to the men talking in the next room. And in just a few short weeks, they make important discoveries about their communities, about their world, and most of all, about themselves. 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?Īs 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. So, Sadeed’s sister will dictate and sign the letters for him. And in this village, it’s not proper for a boy to correspond with a girl. The elders agree that any letters going back to America must be written well, but the only qualified English-speaking student is a boy. But when Abby’s first letter arrives at a small school in Afghanistan, complications arise. 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. It isn’t that Abby Carson can’t do her schoolwork.

The report card andrew clements pdf