New TJ Crowley Scriptbook Edition Launches as Award-Winning Audio Drama Expands for Immersive Reading

Cinematic coming-of-age story now spans page and performance, inviting audiences to read and listen simultaneously

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Grain Valley Publishing has announced the release of the scriptbook edition of The Real Education of TJ Crowley: Coming of Age on the Redline, the official print companion to the acclaimed full-cast audio drama distributed by Blackstone Publishing. Set in 1968 Wichita during the civil rights era and the early years of school and neighborhood integration, the story follows 13-year-old TJ Crowley, whose life is unraveling after his father's unexplained disappearance, a brother fighting in Vietnam and a mother who is losing control. The award-winning full-cast audio drama now returns to print as a word-for-word scriptbook, bridging page and performance in a cinematic reading experience.

Why it matters

The release of the scriptbook edition arrives as immersive reading — listening while following the text — reshapes how readers experience literature. By inviting listeners to follow 15 actors voicing 24 characters in a story that unfolds like live theater, the edition bridges page and performance in a cinematic reading experience.

The details

Inspired by Grant Overstake's 2018 novel and adapted by the author and producer-director May Wuthrich, the award-winning full-cast audio drama earned major industry honors in 2025, including the Audie Award for Best Young Adult Audiobook, the AudioFile Earphones Award and the IPPY Gold Medal for Outstanding Audiobook of the Year. The project recently received a 2026 activation grant from the City of Wichita Division of Arts and Cultural Services to support a series of listening events, public discussions and school-based presentations throughout the year.

  • The audio drama was released in 2025.
  • The scriptbook edition was released in February 2026.
  • The project received a 2026 activation grant from the City of Wichita Division of Arts and Cultural Services.

The players

Grant Overstake

A Kansas native, former Miami Herald journalist, award-winning author, teaching artist and lifelong competitive athlete who has led creative writing workshops and school assemblies for thousands of students.

May Wuthrich

A multi-award-winning audiobook producer, director, performance coach and veteran media executive whose career spans publishing, film and theater, and who has guided hundreds of productions from page to performance.

Blackstone Publishing

The distributor of the acclaimed full-cast audio drama of The Real Education of TJ Crowley: Coming of Age on the Redline.

Grain Valley Publishing

The publisher of the scriptbook edition of The Real Education of TJ Crowley: Coming of Age on the Redline.

City of Wichita Division of Arts and Cultural Services

The organization that provided a 2026 activation grant to support a series of listening events, public discussions and school-based presentations related to the project.

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What’s next

The project will host a series of listening events, public discussions and school-based presentations throughout 2026 with support from the City of Wichita Division of Arts and Cultural Services.

The takeaway

The release of the scriptbook edition of The Real Education of TJ Crowley: Coming of Age on the Redline represents an innovative approach to storytelling, bridging the page and performance in a cinematic reading experience that immerses audiences in a character-driven narrative about coming of age during a pivotal moment in American history.