Maya and the Robot

Eve L. Ewing • Hook and Return

The Dart is the monthly digital product that features copywork and dictation passages from a specific read aloud novel (you purchase or obtain the novels separately). It's geared toward children ages 8–10 (kids learning to read and write) and is an indispensable tool for parents who want to mechanics and literature in a natural, literature-bathed context. 

This handbook contains the following features:
  • 4 Passages (one per week) for copywork/dictation
  • Notes about grammar, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, and literary devices
  • Highlight each week: copywork and three dictation practices
  • Literary Device: Hook and Return
  • Writing Activity: You Get a Hook. You Get a Hook. Everyone Gets a Hook!
  • Big Juicy Questions
  • Book Club Party Ideas
  • 52 pages
  • Publication Date: February 2023

How does the Dart fit into the Brave Writer complete language arts program?
Learn more on our Getting Started page.

All products are digital and downloadable. All sales are FINAL. No refunds.

About the book

Maya's nervous about fifth grade. She tries to keep calm by reminding herself she knows what to expect. But then she learns that this year won't be anything like the last. For the first time since kindergarten, her best friends Jada and MJ are placed in a different class without her, and introverted Maya has trouble making new friends.

She tries to put on a brave face since they
are in fifth grade now, but Maya is nervous! Just when too much seems to be changing, she finds a robot named Ralph in the back of Mr. Mac's convenience store closet. Once she uses her science skills to get him up and running, a whole new world of connection opens up as Ralph becomes a member of her family and Maya begins to step into her power. In this touching novel, Eve L. Ewing melds together a story about community, adapting to change, and the magic of ingenuity that reminds young readers that they can always turn to their own curiosity when feeling lost.
 – Amazon

Purchase the Maya and the Robot novel here.


Note about content
This novel celebrates life and community and ends on an uplifting and hopeful note. In these pages, you’ll meet a beloved character whose college-aged son (Christopher) was killed in a drive-by shooting ten years before the story takes place. There is a poignant scene late in the book when Maya, the young protagonist, attends Christopher’s memorial service and learns about his cause of death. We encourage you to pre-read the memorial service scene on pages 171–174 and decide how to navigate it with your child (reading directly or modifying to meet their needs). Encountering topics such as this in books can open doors to conversations and help children process tough topics in the safety of your home, but you know your child, their personal experiences, and their capacities best. 



Pin It Fancy