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2025-2026 Arrow Books
2025-2026 Arrow Books
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- Author:
- Erin Entrada Kelly
- Description:
When twelve-year-old Michael Rosario meets a mysterious boy from the future, his life is changed forever. From bestselling author Erin Entrada Kelly, also the winner of the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, this novel explores themes of family, friendship, trust, and forgiveness. The First State of Being is for fans of Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me.
It's August 1999. For twelve-year-old Michael Rosario, life at Fox Run Apartments in Red Knot, Delaware, is as ordinary as ever—except for the looming Y2K crisis and his overwhelming crush on his sixteen-year-old babysitter, Gibby. But when a disoriented teenage boy named Ridge appears out of nowhere, Michael discovers there is more to life than stockpiling supplies and pining over Gibby.
It turns out that Ridge is carefree, confident, and bold, things Michael wishes he could be. Unlike Michael, however, Ridge isn’t where he belongs. When Ridge reveals that he’s the world’s first time traveler, Michael and Gibby are stunned but curious. As Ridge immerses himself in 1999—fascinated by microwaves, basketballs, and malls—Michael discovers that his new friend has a book that outlines the events of the next twenty years, and his curiosity morphs into something else: focused determination. Michael wants—no, needs—to get his hands on that book. How else can he prepare for the future? But how far is he willing to go to get it?
A story of time travel, friendship, found family, and first loves, this thematically rich novel is distinguished by its voice, character development, setting, and exploration of the issues that resonate with middle grade listeners.
- Related Products:
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The First State of Being
Arrow 2025-2026
The First State of Being
$19.95This monthly handbook contains the following features:
- 4 Passages (one per week) for copywork/dictation practices
- Lessons on grammar, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, and literary devices
- Arrow Planner and Skills Tracker
- Weekly Reading Guide
- Literary Device and Writing Activity
- Discussion Questions
- Family Book Club Party Ideas
- Guidelines explaining copywork & dictation practices
- Literary Device: Voice
Find related books in the Brave Writer Book Shop: The First State of Being
Arrow 2025-2026
$179.55 $149.00Where great stories and grammar skills unite!
The Arrow creates a love of reading and writing through literature!
Our year-long program is delivered in nine month-long lesson plans, released monthly.Each handbook is based on a novel and immerses your child in the world of:
- stories
- literary devices
- grammar
- punctuation
- and book club parties
Find out why the Arrow has been the most popular writing program in Brave Writer history!
It's possible to learn grammar and literary devices naturally, in conversation, through playful activities. We show you how!
Our program uses the time-tested practices of copywork and dictation as the key tools to learn punctuation, spelling, and grammar naturally in context. We teach you four methods for applying those practices to literature and writing.
Each handbook contains:
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Notes to go with a selected read aloud (book not provided)
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Four passages taken from the novel for copywork and dictation, one per week
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Easy-to-follow instructions to teach writing elements found in the passages
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Playful and effective grammar and punctuation activities that kids love
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A simple, delightful writing exercise to apply lessons
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Nine comprehension questions
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Book club party ideas
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Copywork passages on separate printable pages
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Four-color design that looks gorgeous on tablets or printed at home
The Arrow program comes with Guidelines to help you implement copywork and dictation practices, as well as a planning tool and a writing skills tracker to help you stay attuned to your child's progress.
Start any time. Enjoy the published Arrows in any order. You will receive all nine by April 2026.2025-2026 book list:
August: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
September: The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steven Sheinkin
October: Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B. B. Alston
November: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
December: Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
January: The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
February: Will's Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes
March: The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco
April: A Wish in the Dark by Christina SoontornvatSwap one! This year, when you purchase the year-long program, you can swap one handbook in the program for a handbook in the Literature Singles collection. Find the swap form in your account after purchase.
Want mentorship to learn how to use Arrow? Join our Brave Writer Training Program!
Delivery: The Arrow is delivered to your Brave Writer online account once per month on the 15th. Each handbook (40-50 pages) is a non-consumable PDF and can be used with multiple children—no need to purchase additional copies.Want a print copy? Go to the front of the line at the Homeschool Printing Company with a special Brave Writer offer. Order here.
Note: The Arrow is one part of the Middle School Writers Bundle. Get all three components of the Brave Writer program in one bundle.
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