Reading Middle Grade hosts monthly virtual events and author visits.
How Our Virtual Author Visits Work
During our virtual visits, your classroom will connect to a live discussion with the month’s visiting author. Other classrooms, homeschoolers, and libraries will also be on the Zoom call. (Some calls will be recorded and available to attending schools for a period of time after the visit, depending on the author’s preferences. Look out for the ⏺️ symbol for recorded visits.)
- Invited authors will give a 15-20-minute presentation and then answer student (& educator) questions for 20-30 minutes. Question-dump Google Forms, where everyone can submit questions, will be open at least one month before each visit, so your students can leave questions for the author.
- Afoma Umesi of Reading Middle Grade will moderate the event.
- 🥳 Each attending school will receive a copy of the author’s newest book and a FREE discussion guide for the author’s latest release.
We currently partner with Old Town Books in Alexandria, VA, whose Children’s Books section is impeccable.
Upcoming event
Virtual Author Visit with Erin Soderberg Downing
- 1 PM EST, Friday, September 26, 2025
- Zoom Videoconference
- $100 (Bring as many students as you can)
- Each sign-up gets you a copy of the author’s latest book
🚨 Our Patreon members get a 10% discount on all virtual author visits, plus access to additional monthly resources, including all items in our shop, Afoma’s reading recaps, and monthly new release posts!
What Educators Are Saying…
“I loved that I, as a Teacher Librarian, didn’t have to do any organizing; it was easy to sign up and was affordable. The work was taken off my hands, and all I had to do was submit the students’ questions and turn on Zoom. Hands down would definitely do this again! Thank you so much! So easy.”
Amanda W. (University Middle School, CO)
“Megan’s presentation was so engaging, and you did such a wonderful job of hosting/moderating, Afoma! My students LOVED Megan sharing about and reading from her new book and hearing one of their questions asked. It was such an awesome experience all around! They are asking for more author visits and are inspired and encouraged to read! It was super easy to sign up and so affordable, too! A win-win for sure!”
Emily W. (Reeves Middle School, WA)
“The author visit with Reading Middle Grade was exactly what I needed and wanted. I value time spent with authors as they absolutely do increase reading with my students. However, as a busy school librarian for grades K-12, it’s a big undertaking. Afoma took ALL the planning out of my hands, and it was seamless. I literally did nothing beyond sharing my excitement with my students and teachers. Getting the books for our students is a HUGE bonus! I can’t wait to engage with more of these author visits throughout the year, and neither can my students!”
Lindsay A. (K-12 Librarian)
“My favorite part was seeing the students as they listened to the talk! Claire gave a great talk. We debriefed afterward about her writing advice and the advice about staying true to yourself. We all read her book What Happened to Rachel Riley? as a book club. Students are very much looking forward to her new book!“
Dr. Erin W. (Learning Center Director at Highland Middle)
“This is such an affordable, simple way to bring different authors into schools. This is the second author we have signed up for, and both times, there was a lot of excitement in participating classes.”
Christine B. (Shapleigh School, ME)
More Events
We host a different middle grade author every month. Take a look at our lineup.
Wendy Wan-Long Shang, author of The Great Wall of Lucy Wu and Bubble Trouble ⏺️
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 (11 AM EST) — Online event
Erin Soderberg Downing, author of The Great Peach Experiment and What Happened Then ⏺️
Friday, September 26, 2025 (1 PM EST) — Online event
Jennifer Nielsen, author of A Night Divided, One Wrong Step, and The Free State of Jax
Wednesday, October 1, 2025* (1 PM EST) — Online event
*Date subject to change. To be confirmed in August 2025.
Next event
Virtual Author Visit with Jennifer Nielsen
✓ 1 PM EST, Wednesday, October 1, 2025
✓ Zoom Videoconference
✓ $100
Fall/Winter Events
September 26, 2025
Erin Soderberg Downing, author of The Great Peach Experiment and What Happened Then ⏺️
1 PM EST
October 1, 2025*
Jennifer Nielsen, author of A Night Divided, One Wrong Step, and The Free State of Jax
1 PM EST
November 26, 2025
Dusti Bowling, author of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, Across the Desert, and Holding On for Dear Life
11 AM EST
December 12, 2025
Dan Gemeinhart, author of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, The Midnight Children, and Busted
1 PM EST
*Date subject to change. To be confirmed in August 2025.
Join Our Free Virtual Author Visit with Alexandra Diaz
Join Reading Middle Grade for a virtual school visit with author Alexandra Diaz on October 22, 2025, at 1 PM EST. Alexandria is the author of the Pura Bulpre Honor book, The Only Road and Farewell Cuba, Mi Isla. Alexandra will give a 15-20-minute presentation, after which a 15-20-minute Q&A will follow, moderated by Afoma Umesi of Reading Middle Grade. All attending classrooms, homeschools, and libraries will have the chance to send in questions ahead of time. This event is FREE thanks to donor funding received by author Alexandra Diaz. It is open to schools worldwide as long as they are able to join live.
Get FOUR Fall Visits for the Price of THREE
Virtual Author Visits: FALL BUNDLE
Join Reading Middle Grade this fall for four amazing virtual author visits with renowned middle grade authors Erin Soderberg Downing, Jennifer Nielsen, Dusti Bowling, and Dan Gemeinhart. Get FOUR visits for the price of THREE. These powerhouse authors will visit in September, October, November, and December 2025, respectively. Their visit dates are below: Erin – Sep 26 at 1 PM EST | Jennifer – Oct 1 at 1 PM EST* | Dusti – Nov 26 at 11 AM EST | Dan – Dec 12 at 1 PM EST
Seasonal visit bundles are significantly less expensive than paying for individual visits, which cost $100 each.
* Subject to change. Final dates to be announced at the end of August. Only Erin’s and Dan’s visits will be recorded.
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