Jason Reynolds (born December 6, 1983) is an American author of novels and poetry for young adult and middle grade audiences. Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in neighboring Oxon Hill, Maryland, Reynolds found inspiration in rap and had an early focus on poetry, publishing many poetry collections before his first novel in 2014, When I Was the Greatest, which won the John Steptoe Award for New Talent.

In the next four years, Reynolds wro…