Jason Reynolds | Extended Interview | THE THREAD Documentary Series

Описание: The extended interview with Jason Reynolds from The Thread docuseries is now available! In this never-before-seen conversation, the New York Times #1 bestselling author and poet reflects on his formative years growing up in Oxon Hill during the 1980s. Opening up about his home life, family dynamics, and most influential teachers, Reynolds vividly narrates what inspired him to empower younger bookworms. He also shares the evolution of his literary journey, his personal experiences with book banning, and the critical importance of fostering empathetic storytelling to promote shared understanding. This captivating interview provides a deep dive into the life and mind of one of today’s leading young adult and middle-grade authors, making it a valuable resource for those interested in literature, education, and creative writing.

Jason Reynolds was born in Washington, DC and raised in neighboring Oxon Hill, Maryland, Reynolds found inspiration in rap to begin writing poetry at nine years old. He focused on poetry for approximately the next two decades, only reading a novel cover to cover for the first time at age 17 and publishing several poetry collections before he published his own first novel, When I Was The Greatest, in 2014. He won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent for this first work of prose and seven more novels followed in the next four years, including Ghost (2016) and two more books in what became his New York Times best-selling Track series, Patina (2017) and Sunny (2018); As Brave As You (2016), winner of the 2016 Kirkus Prize, the 2017 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teen, and the 2017 Schneider Family Book Award; and a Marvel Comics novel called Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2017). Reynolds returned to poetry with Long Way Down (2017), 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. The recipient of a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, and an NAACP Image Award, Reynolds is also the 2020-2022 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. He has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CBS Sunday Morning, and Good Morning America. He is on faculty at Lesley University, for the Writing for Young People MFA Program and lives in Washington, DC.

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Chapter Markers:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:00:16 - Oxon Hill
00:11:38 - Home life
00:15:29 - Sibling relationships
00:19:11 - Family dynamics and influence
00:32:09 - Educational journey
00:45:35 - Supportive teachers
00:56:12 - Connection to poetry
00:59:00 - Writing as power
01:03:10 - Voice for young readers
01:06:08 - Writing process
01:08:25 - Tackling complex topics
01:10:12 - Books and censorship
01:13:19 - Collaboration on "All-American Boys"
01:15:55 - Impact of book bans
01:18:20 - Importance of literacy
01:20:15 - Accolades and legacy
01:21:49 - Unwritten Stories
01:23:51 - Role of Storytelling

Jason Reynolds, Author
Interviewed By: Matthew Henderson
Interview Date: September 18, 2023

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