Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

Jason Reynolds is a celebrated American author of fiction and poetry for young people, a National Ambassador for Young People's Literature whose acclaimed books — including Long Way Down, Ghost, and the co-written All American Boys — speak directly and powerfully to Black teenage experience.

Jason Reynolds came to writing through poetry and a determination to create books that reluctant young readers, especially Black boys who saw little of themselves in fiction, would actually want to read. He has since become one of the most celebrated and prolific voices in contemporary young adult literature, winning a Newbery Honor, multiple Coretta Scott King Awards, and a Printz Honor, and serving as National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

His books — including the verse novel Long Way Down, the Track series beginning with Ghost, Stamped (with Ibram X. Kendi), and All American Boys (co-written with Brendan Kiely) — combine accessibility, emotional honesty, and social urgency, tackling violence, racism, grief, and identity in voices that ring true to their teenage audience.

Reynolds is admired for meeting young readers where they are, and for proving that books written with directness and respect can change lives.