About the Author

Jason Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a Newbery Award Honoree, a Printz Award Honoree, a two-time National Book Award finalist, a Kirkus Award winner, a UK Carnegie Medal winner, a two-time Walter Dean Myers Award winner, an NAACP Image Award Winner, an Odyssey Award Winner and two-time honoree, and the recipient of multiple Coretta Scott King honors and the Margaret A. Edwards Award. He was also the 2020-2022 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. His many books include All American Boys (cowritten with Brendan Kiely); When I Was the Greatest; The Boy in the Black Suit; Stamped; As Brave as You; For Every One; the Track series (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu); Look Both Ways; Stuntboy, in the Meantime; Ain't Burned All the Bright (recipient of the Caldecott Honor) and My Name Is Jason. Mine Too. (both cowritten with Jason Griffin); and Long Way Down, which received a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, and a Coretta Scott King Honor. His debut picture book, There Was a Party for Langston, won a Caldecott Honor and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. He lives in Washington, DC. You can find his ramblings at JasonWritesBooks.com.

Reviews

*"Each story rings with emotional authenticity and empathy."-- "Publishers Weekly, starred review"

*"Filled with the heart and humor."-- "Horn Book, starred review"

*"Superb storytelling."-- "BookPage, starred review"

*"The perfect book to hand to reluctant middle grade readers, who will relate to the hectic and uncertain lives of these characters."--School Library Journal, starred review

*Reynolds proves once again that he has a knack for marrying the emotionally gripping to the unabashedly silly in ways that read as both new and familiar....Charming."-- "BCCB, starred review"

"An unconventional, clever exploration of the secret trials and tribulations of middle schoolers."--Shelf Awareness

"Reynolds' gift for capturing the voices and humanity of urban teens is on full display....Brims with humor, pathos, and the heroic struggle to grow up."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"This is storytelling at its finest, a true masterpiece."--Booklist, starred review

"One of the most exciting, constantly surprising voices in children's literature...is back with another book that's as innovative as it is emotionally arresting." --EW.com "May 3, 2019"