A Brave Writer's Life in Brief

Melissa Wiley was born December 17th. In celebration of her birthday we’re making a special offer. The Arrow for The Prairie Thief is:

Half price today only: $4.95! OFFER HAS EXPIRED

Melissa has authored numerous books for kids and teens, including The Prairie Thief, Inch and Roly Make a Wish, Fox and Crow Are Not Friends, and the Martha and Charlotte Little House books (prequels to the Little House on the Prairie series).

In The Prairie Thief, readers “experience life on the prairie—with one fantastical twist!” From Melissa’s website:

Louisa Brody’s life on the Colorado prairie is not at all what she expected. Her dear Pa, accused of thievery, is locked thirty miles away in jail. She’s living with the awful Smirches, her closest neighbors and the very family that accused her Pa of the horrendous crime. And now she’s discovered one very cantankerous—and magical—secret beneath the hazel grove. With her life flipped upside-down, it’s up to Louisa, her sassy friend Jessamine, and that cranky secret to save Pa from a guilty verdict.

Last year we interviewed Melissa. She talked about influential authors, the unorthodox use of language in literature, the importance of a good copy editor (a “second set of eyes”), how she started her lovely blog, Here in the Bonny Glen, and much, much more. If you missed it the first time you can listen to the full podcast here!

We recently caught up with Melissa and she told us that she just recorded her often-asked-about-but-hard-to-find book, Hanna’s Christmas, and here it is!

You can read more about how the recording came into being on Melissa’s blog.

So, enjoy the holiday story then take advantage of this special Arrow offer today!

The Arrow is a monthly digital product that features copywork and dictation passages from a specific read aloud novel. It’s geared toward children ages 8-11 and is an indispensable tool for parents who want to teach language arts in a natural, literature-bathed context.

In celebration of Katherine Paterson’s birthday (born October 31, 1932) we’re making a special offer! The Boomerang for her novel, The Master Puppeteer, is:

Half price for one day only: $4.95! OFFER HAS EXPIRED

Katherine Paterson said she never wanted to be a writer growing up (she wanted to be either a movie star or a missionary), but she went on to pen some of the most admired works of children’s literature. She’s best known for Bridge to Terabithia. Other works include The Great Gilly Hopkins and Jacob Have I Loved.

Paterson tackles difficult themes in her stories, such as death, jealousy, and being outcast in society. Her young protagonists often triumph over adversity through inner strength and self-sacrifice.

The Master Puppeteer won the National Book Award for Children’s Literature 1977. Paterson’s website describes it like this:

Who is the man called Saburo, the mysterious bandit who robs the rich and helps the poor of the Japanese city of Osaka? And what is his connection with the Hanaza, the puppet theater run by the harsh master of Yoshida? Young Jiro, an apprentice puppeteer, is determined to find out even though this could be very dangerous.

So, celebrate Katherine Paterson’s birthday and take advantage of this special offer today!

The Boomerang is a monthly digital downloadable product that features copywork and dictation passages from a specific read aloud novel. It is geared toward 7th to 10th graders (ages 12—advanced, 13-15) and is the indispensable tool for Brave Writer parents who want to teach language arts in a natural, literature-bathed context.

Roald Dahl was born September 13, 1916. In celebration of his birthday we’re making a special offer. The Arrow for Danny: The Champion of the World is:

Half price through Sunday only: $4.95! OFFER HAS EXPIRED

Roald Dahl is one of the 20th century’s greatest storytellers. Though he passed away in 1990, his masterful stories live on and on.

His children’s books are known for their dark and unsentimental humor. His most famous works include James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Set in England, Danny: The Champion of the World explores the relationship between Danny, a young English boy, and William, his father, who works as a car mechanic at a gas station and steals pheasants on the side.

Danny and his father live in a “Gypsy vardo,” with “big wheels and fine patterns painted all over it in yellow and red and blue.” A vardo is a horse-drawn wagon or caravan used by the Romani people (note: “Gypsy” is sometimes considered a derogatory term by those of Romani heritage), and it’s said that Dahl kept one in his garden.

The story culminates with Danny and his father’s attempt to spoil the pheasant-hunting event of Mr. Hazel, their mean neighbor. Will they exact revenge?

So, take advantage of this special offer today!

The Arrow is a monthly digital product that features copywork and dictation passages from a specific read aloud novel. It’s geared toward children ages 8-11 and is an indispensable tool for parents who want to teach language arts in a natural, literature-bathed context.