Jessica Vitalis
Middle grade author with a passion for entertaining, inspiring, and educating students!
About Jessica
Jessica Vitalis's books have been translated into three languages, received multiple starred reviews, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections, and a 2025 NCTE Notable Verse Novel designation. In addition to appearing on “Best Book” lists for Kirkus and CCBC, Jessica won the Reading the West Book Award, the WWW 2024 WILLA Literary Award, and the High Plains International Book Award. Jessica often writes from lived experience and explores topics such as domestic violence, bullying, and socioeconomic disparities while emphasizing the importance of friendship, found family, and hope. One of Jessica's favorite parts of being an author is connecting with young readers to share her love of reading and writing and the importance of tenacity. Additional presentation topics are customizable and include topics such as where to find story ideas, the building blocks of story, writing strong characters, and writing free verse. "Jessica’s presentation was so inspiring and energizing for our fifth and sixth grade students! Her stories – both on and off the page – are magnetic." - Middle School Librarian
Books
What educators say
“Jessica did a beautiful presentation for my 7th grade reading classes. My students were engrossed! At the end, she answered all of their questions about being an author, the writing process, and everything in between. It was such a fantastic experience for my students!”
“Jessica . . . told engaging, relatable stories for our middle school students. She . . . also left the kids with a positive message that they, too, can achieve their dreams however out of reach they may seem.”
“…an incredible presentation! From your personal stories to your written work and the process that led you to becoming the amazing author that you are…you had us all engaged, curious and inspired!”
Visit formats
What a visit includes
Jessica's assemblies typically last 45 to 60 minutes and include an interactive, engaging presentation followed by Q&A. Full day visits may also include up to two additional sessions (either repeats of the assembly or writing workshops for individual classes). Her assemblies are designed for groups of any size, but she does require a microphone and projector for her slides. Author signings available upon request (books not included).
Fees vary by format, travel, and your school's needs. Reach out directly for a quote and open dates.
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