About the Author
Jason Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author who writes novels and poetry for young adult and middle-grade audiences. His recent releases include Miles Morales: Suspended, the sequel to his first book in the franchise, and Ain’t Burned All The Bright, which was a Caldecott Honor winner made in collaboration with artist and good friend Jason Griffin. Including 300 pages of art, this book tackles police brutality and the COVID-19 pandemic in a gripping and accessible way.
Reynolds’ award-winning book, Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks, was a National Book Award finalist, Carnegie Medal winner, and was named one of the best books of 2019 by NPR, The New York Times, School Library Journal, and more. Look Both Ways is composed of interconnected stories, each centering on a different student from the same school and tells what happens after the dismissal bell rings, brilliantly reminding readers to look at our surroundings more closely and notice all the things that connect us to our communities.
Born in Washington, DC, and raised in Maryland, Reynolds first found inspiration in rap and began writing poetry when he was nine years old. He went on to publish several poetry collections before publishing his first novel, When I Was the Greatest, which won the Corretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent. He has since written numerous award-winning novels, including All American Boys, the Track series, Patina, Sunny, For Everyone, Miles Morales-Spiderman, and As Brave As You, which won the Kirkus Prize, an NAACP Image Award, and the Schneider Family Book Award. He is also the author of Long Way Down, a novel in verse which was named a Newberry Honor book, a Printz Honor Book, and best young adult work by the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Awards.
Reynolds’ book, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, written in collaboration with author and historian Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, is a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative that illuminates the many insidious forms of racist ideas and give readers the tools to identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their own lives. Based on Kendi’s National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning, Reynolds has re-imagined this ground-breaking work for young adults and provides an accessible book that helps young readers understand race and society.
Reynolds currently lives and writes in Washington, DC, and has recently finished serving his third term as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
Raves and Reviews
Praise for Ain’t Burned All The Bright
Reynolds’s breathtakingly poetic prose melds seamlessly with Griffin’s effective multimedia images to capture a story of our time that should be read by everybody. This is a must read.”
— School Library Journal, starred review
As Reynolds’s lines depict Black people facing police brutality, Covid-19, and general concerns regarding safety, Griffin’s captivating collages literally and metaphorically capture a constant state of worry and panic, leading to visual moments that encourage the reader to find solace and inspiration in the everyday.”
— Publishers Weekly, starred review
There’s nothing Reynolds can’t do, and his readers know it. This creative, timely reflection will be particularly admired by teens seeking change. It’s essential reading.”
— Booklist, starred review
Artful, cathartic, and most needed.”
— Kirkus Review, starred review
Praise for Look Both Ways:
This is storytelling at its finest, a true masterpiece.”
— Booklist, starred review
One of the most exciting, constantly surprising voices in children’s literature…is back with another book that’s as innovative as it is emotionally arresting.”
— EW.com
Praise for All American Boys:
Police brutality and race relations in America are issues that demand debate and discussion, which his superb book powerfully enables.”
— Booklist, starred review
Timely and powerful, this novel promises to have an impact long after the pages stop turning. . . . A must-have for all collections.”
— School Library Journal, starred review
Both welcome and necessary.”
— Publishers Weekly, starred review
Praise for Ghost:
It’s easy to praise Reynolds’s vivid description of life in Ghost’s urban neighborhood as one that’s challenging and full of warmth, relationships and hope. But this book’s biggest strength is Ghost himself. Reynolds has created a character whose journey is so genuine he’s worthy of a place alongside Ramona and Joey Pigza on the bookshelves where our most beloved, imperfect characters live.”
— The New York Times
With his second fantastic middle-grade novel of the year, the ferociously talented Reynolds perfectly captures both the pain and earnest longing of a young boy. The first in the four-book Track series, this is raw and lyrical, and as funny as it is heartbreaking….An absolute must-read for anyone who has ever wondered how fast you must be to run away from yourself. Is anyone else putting out so many stellar books so quick? The author of The Boy in the Black Suit and All American Boys keeps dashing along.”
— ALA Booklist, starred review
Praise for When I Was the Greatest:
When I Was the Greatest is at once thought-provoking and original. I’ve never met characters like these before and fell in love with them immediately. Reynolds is someone to watch. I loved this book: I was blown away by it.”
— Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming
In the Media
“Writer Jason Reynolds on the Inner World of Miles Morales”
May 19, 2023
“Author Jason Reynolds on book bans, racism and Spiderman”
May 2, 2023
“Jason Reynolds on stories told for, and by, young readers”
July 17, 2022
“Who Jason Reynolds Writes His Best-sellers For”
August 16, 2021
“Jason Reynolds: YA Books Make Us Feel Safe to Be Who We Really Are”
August 10, 2021
“Behold, Your Preview of How Jason Reynolds’ Upcoming Book Will Flip the Script on History”
November 2019
November 20, 2020
“Jason Reynolds on wanting writer role models: “Judy Blume never came and hollered at us””
November 30, 2019
“Jason Reynolds Is on a Mission”
October 28, 2019
“Jason Reynolds captures the beauty and heartache of middle school life in Look Both Ways“
October 8, 2019
