Jason Reynolds is a New York Times bestselling author of novels and poetry for young adult and middle-grade audiences. His latest release, Twenty-Four Seconds from Now, tackles the topic of a young boy’s “first time” in an unfiltered and undeniably sweet stream of consciousness story. His other works include National Book Award Finalist Look Both Ways, Caldecott Honor There Was a Party for Langston, and Ain’t Burned All The Bright, a Caldecott Honor winner.

In his works, Reynolds aims to depict the rich inner lives of kids of color, and ensure that they see themselves and their communities in literature. 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, D.C., and raised in Maryland, Reynolds first found inspiration in rap and began writing poetry when he was 9 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 Newbery 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 Ibram X. Kendi, Ph.D., is a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative that illuminates the many insidious forms of racist ideas, and gives 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 reimagined this ground-breaking work for young adults to provide an accessible book that helps young readers understand race and society. Reynolds currently lives and writes in Washington, D.C., and has recently finished serving his third term as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.