History Detective Club — Bringing the American Revolution to Life

Hi! I’m Wendy M. Neugent, author of the History Detective Club, a middle grade series with high-action historical adventures that help students experience the past as something real, urgent, and unforgettable.

My school visits are designed for Grades 3–8 and support both social studies and ELA goals, with a special emphasis on:

• Revolutionary Virginia & the American Revolution
• Primary sources and historical thinking
• Critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning
• How real history becomes a story

Who These Visits Are For

My programs are a great fit for:

• Elementary and middle schools (Grades 3–8)
  
• School librarians & media specialists
  
• Social studies and ELA teachers
  
• "One School, One Book" and reading celebration events
  
• District-wide literacy and history initiatives
  

What Students Will Experience

My presentations and workshops are interactive, student-friendly, and designed to build excitement around both reading, writing, and history.

Depending on the program, students will:

• Explore how the American Revolution unfolded in real time
  
• Learn how historians use evidence to decide what most likely happened
  
• Compare sources and practice critical thinking
  
• Understand how perspective and bias affect historical accounts
  
• See how authors build stories around real events
  
• Enjoy time for student Q&A
  

Programs are typically 45 minutes, and can be adapted for:

• Grades 3–5 (simpler framing and more guided discussion)
  
• Grades 6–8 (deeper analysis and more independent thinking)
  

Current Program Offerings

✅ Core Assembly Program (Grades 3–8)

America on the Brink: Road to Revolution (1774–1776)

A history-forward presentation that helps students understand how the American Revolution unfolded in real time—before anyone knew the outcome.

Students will explore:

• How tensions grew in the colonies
  
• Why Virginia and Williamsburg played a major role
  
• How fear, uncertainty, and difficult choices shaped history
  
• How ordinary people experienced extraordinary events
  

⭐ Workshop Program (Grades 4–8)

Be a History Detective: Primary Sources & What Really Happened

This workshop teaches students how historians think like detectives—using evidence, context, and critical thinking to investigate the past.

Students learn:

• What primary sources are (and how they’re used)
  
• Why sources can disagree even when they’re real
  
• How to evaluate reliability, bias, and purpose
  
• How to separate facts, opinions, and assumptions
  

This is a great fit for:

• Library programs
  
• Social studies enrichment
  
• Writing/reading groups
  
• Gifted & advanced learning groups
  

✍️ Workshop Add-On (Grades 5–8)

From History to Story: How Authors Build Historical Fiction

A creative, standards-friendly workshop that shows students how authors transform real history into page-turning stories—while staying grounded in facts.

Students will explore:

• What must stay historically true
  
• What a writer can invent (characters, conflicts, mysteries)
  
• How research helps stories feel real
  
• How to turn a real event into a scene
  

In-Person Author Visits (Virginia)

Half-Day Visit (Up to 2 sessions)

Starting at $1,250 + travel

Full-Day Visit (Up to 4 sessions)

Starting at $1,750 + travel

Full-day visits may also include (schedule permitting):

• Q&A time
  
• Book signing time
  
• Limited classroom drop-ins
  

(All in-person pricing assumes one school/location for the day.)

District Tours / Multi-School Visits

District-wide visits are available for in-state and out-of-state schools and can be scheduled over 2–5 days.

District tours are ideal for:

• Coordinated district literacy initiatives
  
• Multiple school assemblies across the week
  
• Shared programming across buildings
  
• Regional scheduling that reduces travel costs
  

📌 District tour pricing is provided by custom quote based on number of schools, student count, dates, and travel requirements.

Travel & Lodging Policy

Travel expenses are from zip code 23139, and may apply depending on the Host location.

• Up to 60 miles: no travel fee
  
• 61+ miles: travel fee applies
  
• More than 2 hours away (one-way): an overnight hotel stay is required
  

If travel costs are a concern, I’m happy to suggest options such as:

• Partnering with another nearby school to share travel costs
  
• Scheduling a multi-day visit to reduce per-school travel
  
• Booking a virtual visit instead
  

Virtual Visits (Anywhere)

Virtual visits are a great option for schools and classrooms that want an author experience without travel time or lodging.

✅ Free 15-Minute Virtual Q&A (with qualifying book purchase)

Schools may qualify for a free 15-minute virtual Q&A with the purchase of a classroom book order.

✅ Paid Virtual Visits

Paid 45 minute virtual visit options are available for schools and classrooms.

📩 Contact me with grade level and group size for the best option.

Book Ordering 

Many schools choose to offer book ordering before a visit to build excitement and strengthen reading momentum.

Book Sales Rewards (Tiered Credits)

Schools and districts that offer book sales may earn Book Sales Credits, applied toward the author visit program fee only, to help defray costs for the school.

Credits are based on total books sold by the ordering deadline:

• 
  100+ books sold → $250 credit
  
• 
  200+ books sold → $500 credit
  
• 
  300+ books sold → $750 credit
  
• 
  500+ books sold → $1,250 credit
  

📌 Credits are capped at 25% of the author visit fee.
📌 Credits do not apply to travel, lodging, or shipping expenses.

Bonus Library Set (Included with Full-Day Visits)

To support school libraries and help students keep reading after the visit:

✅ Full-day in-person bookings include a FREE Complete Series Library Pack (paperback)

For district tours, additional library sets may be included based on visit structure and/or book sales totals.

Booking & Payment

A signed agreement and deposit are required to reserve your date(s).

• 50% non-refundable deposit is due to confirm booking.
  
• Remaining balance is due 14 days prior to the visit date.
  
• Travel, lodging, and shipping costs may apply.
  

Ready to Schedule a Visit?

To request availability, please send a message with:

1. School name + location
   
2. Grade levels participating
   
3. Estimated student count
   
4. Preferred dates/time window
   
5. In-person or virtual preference
   
6. Any special scheduling needs
   

📩 Contact me here: Wendy@WendyNeugent.com

I can’t wait to welcome your students into the History Detective Club—where history doesn’t feel like homework.