Wilton Library is will present the second event in the ASML Author Series, an author talk with renowned teen and children’s author Jason Reynolds on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels and poetry for young adult and middle-grade audiences, and a 2024 MacArthur Fellow. His new book, Coach, came out on Oct. 14 and is the fifth book in the New York Times bestselling Track series. Reynolds will be in conversation with Valmai Hanson, head of Teen Services at Wilton Library.
“We could not be more thrilled to welcome Jason Reynolds to Wilton,” said Wilton Library Executive Director Caroline Mandler. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for community members of all ages to hear from an author of this caliber. We are truly thankful to ASML for making this event possible.”
Born in Washington, DC, and raised in Maryland, Reynolds first found inspiration in rap and began writing poetry when he was nine years old. He went on to publish several poetry collections before publishing his first novel, When I Was the Greatest, which won the Coretta 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 also wrote Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You in collaboration with author and historian Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, which illuminates the many insidious forms of racist ideas and gives readers the tools to identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their own lives.
Reynolds currently lives and writes in Washington, D.C., and has served three terms as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
The ASML Author Series is sponsored by ASML. The author series is free and open to the public; advance registration is required. Each author talk will be followed by a Q&A with audience members and an author signing of their books.
Elm Street Books will be on site to sell different books written by Jason Reynolds. Attendees may also preorder books from Elm Street Books available online and pick up the books at the event to be signed by the author. The library receives a portion of proceeds from these sales.
For more information about the ASML Author Series, please visit the Wilton Library website.