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A NOTE FROM EMILY
Just when you thought there’s nothing else you could possibly say about rock star author Jason Reynolds, he blows the 2018 ALA Awards out of the water with a Newbery Honor, Printz Honor, Corretta Scott King Author Honor, and Odyssey Honor for Long Way Down—his chilling YA novel in verse that stormed onto the scene last fall! It seems everywhere you turn Jason is popping up in the media: multiple appearances on CBS This Morning, a stellar interview with Trevor Noah on The Daily Show, and upcoming PBS interviews—just to name a few!
Last year we watched in pride and awed appreciation as he shined as the spokesperson for Indies First, calling on folks to support their local bookstores in a series of fantastic videos, tweets, posts, and events. Jason has repeatedly moved entire rooms of booksellers and educators to tears, laughter, and standing ovations, with keynotes he comes up with on the fly! Not to mention he’s a book-writing machine, producing multiple titles a year (sometimes a season!)—titles which inevitably come to garner countless starred reviews and accolades... every single one!
If you haven’t heard about his initially rocky relationship with reading, brace yourself for the shocking truth that Jason didn’t complete an entire novel until college! As a kid, the titles studied in school just didn’t speak to him or his life experience. It’s thus little wonder that Jason Reynolds has devoted his authorial career to writing the VERY BOOKS he was missing in his youth. He has become the children’s author that childhood Jason Reynolds needed, writing for kids like the boy he once was. He crafts stories with characters they can relate to, reflecting the landscape and emotions of their realities. But more than anything, Jason’s books inspire and empower kids, often providing a source of comfort and encouragement amid whatever tough life circumstances they are forced to navigate.
And how about in person?! Few authors can charm a crowd of boisterous school kids like Jason Reynolds! The magic Jason works on kids is positively palpable, making him one of the most-requested S&S Kids authors for events nationwide (and many of you who have asked for an event with Jason only to discover he’s already booked somewhere else across the country can attest to this!). As the scope of children he reaches continues to expand, the more stories we hear of the individual kids he’s influenced along the way. For it seems that with every school he visits, a new heartwarming case emerges of a child empowered by Jason and his books. A child who, after meeting Jason, finally feels hopeful for his or her future which had previously seemed so bleak. To say that Jason Reynolds is changing the lives of children across the country is no understatement.
With that, I am thrilled to present two Spring 2018 titles from Jason Reynolds! (After all, would it be a true S&S Children’s publishing season without a Jason title or two on the list?) FOR EVERY ONE, a powerful, inspirational letter to dreamers everywhere, and SUNNY, the third installment in the award-winning, New York Times bestselling TRACK series, are both ON SALE TODAY! I know you are all just as ecstatic as I am to welcome these new titles from S&S Kids’ very own children’s-writing superhero, Jason Reynolds!
Booksellers, let the LIFE-CHANGING begin—or rather, continue!!
Happy Reading (And Handselling!)!
Emily
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FOR EVERY ONE | |
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kids who dream of being better than they are. Kids who dream of doing more than they’d ever dare to dream. For all the kids who are scared to dream, or don’t know how to dream, or don’t bother trying to dream because they’ve NEVER seen a dream come true. Jason does not claim to know how to make dreams come true. He wants kids to know that dreams take time. They involve countless struggles. But no matter how many times a dreamer gets beaten down, the drive and the passion and the hope never fully extinguish—because just having the dream is the start you need. The perfect gift for graduates, new babies, anyone starting a new journey or chapter in their lives, or anyone who simply needs some encouragement, inspiration, and a little reminding that they’ll make it—they just need to keep going and believe in themselves! Reviews: “This short piece is full of the elements that make Reynolds such a successful writer: honesty, rich imagery, great facility with language, and an irresistible cadence. At times conversational, other times, uplifting, this intimate and powerful piece connects on many levels.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “An inspirational piece from a master writer, this is a book to read and share with others.” —Booklist | |
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SUNNY | |
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Sunny’s dad treats him—ignoring him, making Sunny call him Darryl, never “Dad”—it’s no wonder Sunny thinks he’s to blame. It seems the only thing Sunny can do right in his dad’s eyes is win first place ribbons running the mile, just like his mom did. But Sunny doesn’t like running—never has, so he stops... right in the middle of a race. As his relationship with his dad grows worse than ever, the last thing Sunny wants to do is leave the other newbies—Ghost, Patina, and Lu, his only friends—behind. But you can’t be on a track team and not run. So Coach asks Sunny what he wants to do. Sunny’s answer? Dance. Yes, dance. But you also can’t be on a track team and dance, can you? Then, in a stroke of genius only Jason Reynolds can conceive, Sunny discovers a track event that encompasses the hard hits of hip-hop, the precision of ballet, and the showmanship of dance as a whole: the discus throw. As Sunny practices the discus, learning when to let go at just the right time, he’ll let go of everything that’s been eating him up inside, perhaps just in time. Starred reviews for Jason’s TRACK series: “Reynolds uses a light hand to delve into topics that include gun violence, class disparity, and bullying in this compelling series opener.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review for GHOST) “The focus on track athletics—a subject sorely lacking in the middle grade space—combined with the quality of Reynolds’s characters and prose, makes this an essential purchase.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review for GHOST) “Raw and lyrical, and as funny as it is heartbreaking. It tackles issues such as theft, bullying, and domestic violence with candor and bravery, while opening a door for empathy and discussion. An absolute must-read for anyone who has ever wondered how fast you must be to run away from yourself.” —Booklist (starred review for GHOST) “Ghost is about kids who are, in both senses, running for their lives, and the generous souls who help them along the way... Excellent.” —Shelf Awareness (starred review for GHOST) “This ‘second leg’ of Reynolds’s series is as satisfying as its predecessor and a winning story on its own.” —School Library Journal (starred review for PATINA) “The plot races as fast as the track runners in it... Complete, complex, and sparkling.” —Booklist (starred review for PATINA) “Reynolds has done an excellent job of providing insights into the life of an African American middle schooler... Humorous and authentic.” —The Horn Book (starred review for PATINA) “Another stellar lap.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review for PATINA) More accolades and honors for the TRACK series!: • GHOST, the first book in the series, was a 2016 National Book Award Finalist! • GHOST was named a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and a Publishers Weekly Best of the Year! • PATINA was a Kirkus Best Book of the Year! | |
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And don’t forget Jason Reynolds’s award–winning, New York Times bestselling backlist! All available now! | |
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For Middle Graders | |
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Jason Reynolds in the news! | |
