Author headshot
★ Grant visits open
Middle Grade · Adventure · Diverse Heroes
James Okonkwo
Middle-grade adventure author
3–56–8📍 In-person💻 Virtual✓ Published & vetted
Based in
Chicago, IL
Local zone
50 mi · no fee
Books published
3 titles
Schools visited
120+
About James
James writes heart-pounding middle-grade adventures that show kids from all backgrounds as the heroes. His debut trilogy has sold over 200,000 copies. School visits are his favorite days of the year.
Books
The Iron Compass
HarperCollins, 2020
Storm Riders
HarperCollins, 2021
The Last Cartographer
HarperCollins, 2023
Visit formats
📍
In-person · Local
Local visit
$700 / day
- ✓Author talk
- ✓Writing workshop
- ✓Q&A session
- ✓Book signing
✓ No travel fee — within 50 mi of Chicago, IL.
💻
Virtual
Virtual visit
$350 / session
- ✓60-min virtual talk
- ✓Writing craft Q&A
- ✓Slide presentation
✓ No travel — connect from anywhere.
What a visit includes
✓Pre-visit planning call
✓Customized for your grade
✓Q&A with students
✓Live reading or demo
✓Signed book for library
✓Optional writing activity
✓Post-visit reflection guide
✓Parent follow-up note
Volunteer visits
James offers 3 free visits a year
2 of 3 remaining this year. Qualifying schools receive a fully-funded in-person or virtual visit.
1
Show the need — Title I, under-resourced, or stretched budget.2
Name a staff lead who will own the day.3
Put books in hands first — students read at least one book beforehand.4
Keep it going — share a plan for sustaining reading excitement.Availability
$700 / in-person day
$350 virtual · out-of-area adds travel
★ 2 free grant visits remaining
Grade levels3–5, 6–8
Local zoneFree within 50 mi
LanguagesEnglish
Typical response3–4 days
✓ Background-checked & publisher-verified
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