Jason Reynolds: podcast appearances and interviews

Jason Reynolds, born on December 6, 1983, is known for his work as an author of novels and poetry aimed at young adult and middle grade readers. His literary background is rooted in a passion for rap and poetry, which influenced his early publishing endeavors. Reynolds published numerous poetry collections before releasing his first novel, When I Was the Greatest, in 2014. This novel earned the John Steptoe Award for New Talent. Over the following years, Reynolds authored several notable works including the best-selling Track series, with titles such as Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu. Ghost was a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, and As Brave as You received both the Kirkus Prize and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teen, along with the Schneider Family Book Award. Reynolds also contributed to the Marvel universe with a novel on Miles Morales, Spider-Man. In 2017, he revisited poetry with Long Way Down, a novel in verse that received numerous honors including a Newbery Honor and a Michael L. Printz Honor. His 2019 book Look Both Ways won the Carnegie Medal. Reynolds served as the Library of Congress’ National Ambassador for Young People's Literature from 2020 to 2022. His accolades include the Margaret A. Edwards Award in 2023 and a MacArthur Fellowship in 2024. Beyond his literary achievements, Reynolds is affiliated with the Florida Horse Park, where he holds roles as an athletic director and head football coach.