School Visits with AJ Whitney
📚 Dark fiction. Deep questions. Real conversations.
AJ Whitney is a YA author and an experienced school counselor, and it shows in every visit. She writes dark books designed specifically for teenagers to read, not adults who miss their youth. Characters ages 12-15, no adult content, low on adult language, high on healthy relationships and promoting mental health. These are the kinds of stories that capture readers who feel unseen everywhere else and students who’ve never been interested in reading before.
✨ Now Booking: 2026–2027 School Year
🎓 What a Visit Actually Looks Like
AJ’s preferred format is classroom rotations. She teaches 1 or 2 classes at a time throughout the day. It engages students more deeply than a large assembly, lets AJ adapt the conversation to each group, and frankly, it’s more fun for everyone in the room.
A typical full day looks something like:
- Morning sessions with multiple classes, grouped by grade or class type
- Lunch with student leaders, writing club, or staff (your call)
- Afternoon sessions, with options for workshops or a Q&A with the lit club
- Optional: a signing, a small-group session, or a meet-and-greet to wrap
AJ adapts to your school’s bell schedule. Whether you run 45-minute periods or longer block scheduling, she’ll fit into whatever your day looks like. Half days follow the same model with fewer sessions. Virtual visits work the same way over Zoom: single classes or grouped sessions, your call.
Need an assembly format instead? AJ can do that too. It’s just not the default. Classrooms get better conversations.
“AJ’s presentation was attention getting from the very beginning. She engaged students with audience participation and cool, relatable vibes. Students left the presentation excited. 10/10 would recommend.”
— Jen B., Middle School Librarian
💬 Available Programs (Click to Expand):
Dystopian Fiction & the Sovereign Universe
A deep look at the dystopian genre through the lens of AJ’s Sovereign Trilogy. Why these stories matter, what they teach us about power and survival, and how to build a world worth fighting for. Strong pairing with dystopian literature units, world-building workshops, or any classroom reading 1984, The Hunger Games, Fahrenheit 451, or The Giver.
When the World Is Against You: Dark Fiction in a Dark World
A conversation about resilience, identity, and surviving hard things. Drawing on AJ’s background as a school counselor and the experiences of her protagonist Harper, this session opens real discussion about what it means to keep going when everything feels stacked against you. Strong fit for advisory periods, social-emotional learning programs, and mental health awareness initiatives.
Own Your Weird
A celebration of the kids who don’t fit in (and the ones who pretend they do). About finding your people, owning what makes you different, and building an identity that doesn’t depend on anyone else’s approval. The session most students remember a year later.
Found Family
What it means to build a chosen family when the one you were given doesn’t fit. Pulls from Harper’s relationships in The Sovereign Trilogy and from real-life conversations AJ has had with students over years of counseling. Lands especially hard with students navigating complicated home situations.
Writing the Dark Stuff (and Everything Else)
A workshop-format session for students who want to write but feel like their stories are “too much.” How to write high-stakes YA without flinching, how to handle dark themes responsibly, and how to actually finish a draft. The skills transfer: students writing romance, fantasy, comedy, or anything in between get the same craft tools. Best for writing electives, lit clubs, and any group of teen writers ready to take their work seriously.
“[AJ’s presentation] was very thorough but boiled down to the most important steps in becoming an author, and it was very easy to follow through and understand. I also think that her book sounded very interesting… I love that she was able to open up about more personal stuff…”
— Amelie, High School Student
💲 Pricing:
In-person visits (Kansas City metro, within one hour of belton)
- Full day: $1,800
- Half day: $1,000
- Add-on workshop or extra hour: $400
In-person visits (US and Canada)
- Full day: $2,500 plus travel
- Half day: $1,500 plus travel
- Schools cover flight, lodging, and travel days. Full travel policy provided with booking confirmation.
Virtual visits (anywhere)
- Single session: $850
- Add-on workshop: $400
Budget tight? Apply for the Dark Books. Real Talk. Zero Cost. scholarship below.
🖤 Dark Books. Real Talk. Zero Cost.
Every student deserves access to an author visit, regardless of their school’s budget.
Three Kansas City metro middle and high schools will be selected for a free in-person visit during the 2026-2027 school year through the Dark Books. Real Talk. Zero Cost. scholarship. Selection prioritizes Title I schools, schools serving high populations of reluctant readers, and schools where an author visit would otherwise be financially out of reach.
Eligibility: Schools located within 60 minutes of Belton, MO. Outside the KC metro? Email talent@ajwhitneybooks.com to discuss reduced-rate options.
Application deadlines:
- Priority deadline: May 22, 2026 (best chance of selection)
- Final deadline: September 15, 2026
If your school can’t accommodate the standard rate, this is the path. Schools that put in the work tend to be the ones that get selected. Free visit, free travel within the KC metro, no hidden costs.
“I liked how she shared her life experiences and how they helped in her writing journey.”
— High School Writer’s Workshop Student
🛒 Book Orders + Classroom Access
Students get the most out of an author visit when they’ve already met the characters. A few ways to make that happen:
💲Pre-order discount through the publisher. Schools can order copies of AJ’s books directly through her publisher at a discounted rate. We’ll send you the link and ordering instructions when the visit is confirmed.
📦 Bonus: Buy a box, get a donation. For every box of AJ’s books your school or library orders for the visit, AJ personally purchases and donates one copy back to your school, library, or classroom. (Individual titles come in varying quantities per box.)
💳 On-site book sales. AJ can bring copies to sell at the event at standard event pricing, with administrator approval. We’ve also worked with schools to provide stock for book fairs, with unsold copies picked up afterward. No risk to your inventory.
Email talent@ajwhitneybooks.com to coordinate.
📍 Where AJ Visits
Kansas City metro (within 60 minutes of Belton, MO): In-person visits with no travel costs. This is the easiest, fastest option for KC-area schools.
United States and Canada: In-person visits available anywhere your school can cover flights, lodging, and travel days. AJ travels a limited number of times per school year, so booking early matters.
Anywhere with internet: Virtual visits over Zoom. Same programs, same conversations, no logistics. A good fit for schools outside the KC metro with limited travel budgets, or when scheduling doesn’t allow for an in-person day.
Not sure which option fits your school? Email talent@ajwhitneybooks.com and we’ll figure it out together.
✈️ Travel and Logistics
KC metro visits: No travel costs. AJ drives.
Drive-distance visits (within 2 hours of Belton, MO): Federal mileage rate plus a small drive-time fee.
Travel visits (US and Canada): Schools cover flights, ground transportation, lodging, and a flat per diem for meals. A travel-day fee applies for fly-distance visits. AJ travels economy and arrives the evening before the visit.
Full travel and expense policy provided with booking confirmation, so your finance team has everything they need in writing.
✅ Dark books. Real conversations. Students who actually want to be there.
Ready to bring AJ to your school?
Email talent@ajwhitneybooks.com to start the conversation. Tell us a little about your school, your students, and what you’re hoping for. AJ’s team will get back to you within two business days with available dates and next steps.