Jason Reynolds (born December 6, 1989) is an American author of young adult, middle‑grade, and picture‑book literature. His works frequently explore themes of race, identity, and socioeconomic challenges faced by urban youth. Reynolds is a frequent collaborator with author Ibram X. Kendi and has received numerous literary awards and honors.
Early life and education
Reynolds was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in the city’s Carver Langston neighborhood. He attended the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies in 2012. Prior to publishing professionally, he worked as a youth mentor and basketball coach.
Career
Reynolds’ debut novel, When I’m Gone (2011), was self‑published. He gained wider recognition with the 2015 novel All American Boys, co‑written with Brendan Kiely, which was selected for the 2016 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature longlist. Subsequent notable titles include:
- Ghost (2016) – first in the “Track” series, a New York Times bestseller.
- Look Both Ways (2017) – a collection of interconnected short stories.
- Long Way Down (2017) – a verse novel that received the Michael L. Printz Honor and a Coretta Scott King Honor.
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (2019) – a young‑reader adaptation, co‑authored with Ibram X. Kendi; it won the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Non‑Fiction and a Newbery Honor.
- The Boy in the Black Suit (2020) – a picture book illustrated by Michael DiBiasio, a Caldecott Honor book.
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and How to Change Everything (2021) – a nonfiction adaptation for adult readers, also co‑written with Kendi.
Reynolds has published additional titles in the “Track” series (Patina, Sunny, Lu, Spear), as well as stand‑alone works such as The Boy Who Could Be My Friend (2021) and We Are the Ants (2022). His books have been translated into multiple languages and are widely used in school curricula.
Awards and honors
Reynolds’ work has earned numerous accolades, including:
- Coretta Scott King Book Awards (Honor) – Long Way Down (2018), The Boy in the Black Suit (2021)
- Michael L. Printz Honor – Long Way Down (2018)
- Newbery Medal Honors – Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (2020)
- Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Non‑Fiction – Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (2020)
- Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature – Look Both Ways (2018)
- Multiple American Library Association reading list inclusions
Personal life
Reynolds resides in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. He frequently speaks publicly about literacy, youth empowerment, and racial equity. His writing process emphasizes collaboration, particularly his ongoing partnership with Kendi.
Bibliography (selected)
- When I’m Gone (2011)
- All American Boys (2015, with Brendan Kiely)
- Ghost (2016)
- Look Both Ways (2017)
- Long Way Down (2017)
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (2019, with Ibram X. Kendi)
- The Boy in the Black Suit (2020)
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and How to Change Everything (2021, with Ibram X. Kendi)
Impact
Reynolds is regarded as a leading voice in contemporary youth literature, noted for his accessible prose, rhythmic style, and commitment to representing marginalized communities. His works are frequently assigned in middle‑ and high‑school English curricula and have contributed to broader discussions about systemic racism and social justice in education.
