Jason Reynolds facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jason Reynolds
Reynolds in 2020
Born	(1983-12-06) December 6, 1983 (age 41) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation	Writer
Language	English
Alma mater	University of Maryland
Genre	Young adult fiction
Notable works	When I Was the Greatest Boy in the Black Suit As Brave as You Ghost (Track series) Miles Morales: Spider-Man Long Way Down Look Both Ways
Notable awards	Coretta Scott King Award NAACP Image Award Carnegie Medal Margaret A. Edwards Award MacArthur Fellowship
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Jason Reynolds (born December 6, 1983) is an American author who writes popular novels and poetry for young adults and middle school students. He is known for creating stories with characters that many young people can relate to.

Born in Washington, D.C., Reynolds was first inspired by rap music to write poetry. He published several poetry collections before writing his first novel, When I Was the Greatest, in 2014. This book won the John Steptoe Award for New Talent, an award for new and promising authors.

Reynolds is famous for his best-selling Track series, which includes the book Ghost. He also wrote a novel about the superhero Miles Morales in Miles Morales: Spider-Man. Another of his famous books is Long Way Down, a novel written entirely in verse.

From 2020 to 2022, Reynolds served as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature for the Library of Congress. In this role, he traveled to encourage young people across the country to read and share their own stories.

Early Life and Inspiration

Jason Reynolds was born on December 6, 1983, in Washington, D.C. He grew up in the nearby neighborhood of Oxon Hill, Maryland. His mother was a special education teacher.

Finding His Voice in Poetry

When he was nine years old, Reynolds was inspired by Queen Latifah's album Black Reign. He loved the rhythm and storytelling in her rap songs, and it made him want to write his own poetry. For a long time, he felt that books in school didn't connect with his life. He didn't become a big reader until he was 17 years old.

Reynolds continued to write poetry through high school and college. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in English. During college, he also started performing his poetry in front of audiences, which is known as spoken word.

From Bookstore to Book Writer

While in college, Reynolds worked at a bookstore called Karibu Books, which focused on African-American literature. There, he discovered authors like Richard Wright, James Baldwin, and Toni Morrison. Reading their books for the first time made him feel seen and understood.

This experience showed him that stories could reflect his own life and community. It gave him the confidence to write stories in his own voice, using the language and style that felt natural to him.

A Career Writing for Young People

After college, Reynolds moved to New York City to follow his dream of being a writer. At first, it was a struggle. He worked in department stores to pay his bills. He was encouraged by his friend Christopher Myers, the son of famous author Walter Dean Myers, to write stories for young Black kids.

First Novels

In 2014, Reynolds published his first novel, When I Was The Greatest. The story is set in a neighborhood in Brooklyn. The book won an award for new authors and launched his career.

The next year, he published The Boy in the Black Suit. This book is about a young boy dealing with the sadness of losing his mother. It won a Coretta Scott King Honor, which recognizes outstanding books by African American authors.

Tackling Big Questions

Reynolds at the National Book Festival in 2022

In 2015, Reynolds co-wrote All American Boys with author Brendan Kiely. The book tells the story of a serious event from two different points of view. One character is a Black teenager named Rashad, who is wrongly accused of a crime. The other is a white teenager named Quinn, who witnesses what happened. The authors wanted the book to help start conversations about fairness and understanding others.

In 2017, Reynolds wrote Long Way Down, a novel told in free verse poetry. The story follows a 15-year-old boy named Will. After his brother is killed, Will gets in an elevator with a plan to get revenge. The entire story takes place during the 60-second elevator ride. During the ride, he meets ghosts of people from his past who make him question his plan. The book won several major awards, including a Newbery Honor.

The Popular Track Series

The Track series is one of Reynolds's most popular works. Each book follows a different member of an elite middle school track team called the Defenders.

• Ghost (2016) is about a boy named Castle "Ghost" Cranshaw who is running from his past. He discovers that he can use his speed for something positive.
• Patina (2017) tells the story of Patty, a girl who has to take on a lot of responsibility for her family.
• Sunny (2018) is about a boy who wants to find his own way to shine on the team.
• Lu (2018) focuses on a boy who wants to be a leader but has to overcome his own ego.
• Coach (2025) is the fifth book in the series.

Writing a Superhero

In 2017, Reynolds wrote a novel for Marvel Comics called Miles Morales: Spider-Man. The book follows the adventures of Miles Morales, a teenager from Brooklyn who is both Black and Puerto Rican. Reynolds used the superhero story to explore real-world issues that young people face.

Spreading the Love of Reading

Reynolds with psychologist Manfred Günther at a library festival in Berlin in 2018.

From 2020 to 2022, Jason Reynolds was chosen as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. This is a special role given by the Library of Congress. As ambassador, his job was to connect with children and teens in small towns and rural areas across America. He wanted to show them that everyone's story matters and that reading can be for them.

Personal Life

Reynolds moved back to Washington, D.C., in 2016. He enjoys collecting important items related to African-American literature. He owns a letter written by the poet Langston Hughes and a signed first edition of the novel Beloved by Toni Morrison.

Selected Awards and Honors

Jason Reynolds has won many awards for his writing. These awards recognize his talent for telling powerful stories for young readers.

Honors

• 2020 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature at the Library of Congress
• 2024 MacArthur Fellow

Publications

Stuntboy series

• Stuntboy, in the Meantime (2021)
• Stuntboy, in-between Time (2023)

Track series

• Ghost (2016)
• Patina (2017)
• Sunny (2018)
• Lu (2018)
• Coach (2025)