Biblio File
Books for Boys Who Think Books are Boring
Walter Dean Myers delivered a wake up call to the publishing industry, librarians, booksellers, parents, and readers in his 2014 opinion piece asking “Where are the People of Color in Children’s Books?” Then came this infographic showing the discrepancy between minority representation in children’s books compared to the minority percentage of the U.S. population from 1994 to 2012.
We have a long way to go, but there is some good news. Author Jason Reynolds has penned four new books in the past year and a half, following his critically (and reader) acclaimed novel: When I Was the Greatest. Reynolds won the Coretta Scott King / John Steptoe Award for New Talent for When I Was the Greatest. His other novels, Boy in the Black Suit, All American Boys, and As Brave as You, are all Coretta Scott King Honor Books.
Discussing his approach to writing novels, Reynolds has said, “Here's what I know: I know there are a lot—A LOT—of young people who hate reading. I know that many of these book haters are boys. I know that many of these book-hating boys, don't actually hate books, they hate boredom.”
Indeed, Reynolds' books are not boring. He writes character-driven novels with young African American protagonists mostly set in Brooklyn, but not exclusively. His fiction is realistic, dealing with social issues and personal struggles. His characters are authentic, well-developed, and believable. He often writes in multiple perspectives, allowing readers to experience the story from various points of view.
Tiffany James, a librarian here at the New York Public Library, shared her thoughts about the significance of Reynolds' work:
“When I Was the Greatest was the first book I read by talented author Jason Reynolds. I was immediately hooked! He really knows how to tell a story and is as real as it gets. I was absorbed into the story of these kids from Brooklyn who were flawed but genuine. I also love that he cares about diversity and wants to engage reluctant readers. He refuses to write boring books, and instead, he writes things that are relevant, timely, and engaging all at the same time. Keep them coming, Mr. Reynolds!”
BOOKS BY REYNOLDS
Ghost (August 2016)
Middle-Grade
Four kids with very different backgrounds come together to complete on an elite middle school track team.
As Brave as You (May 2016)
Middle-Grade
Two brothers leave Brooklyn for the first time to spend the summer with their grandfather in rural Virginia.
All American Boys (co-written by Brendan Kiely) (September 2015)
12 and up
Two teens, one black and one white, grapple with the repercussions of a brutal police beating.
The Boy in the Black Suit (January 2015)
12 and up
17-year-old Matt just lost his mother to cancer. He takes a job in a funeral parlor and finds a path through his grief with the help of a girl named Lovely.
When I Was the Greatest (January 2014)
12 and up
A story about three boys growing up in Bed-Stuy and one night that drastically changes the course of their lives.
My Name is Jason. Mine Too: Our Story. Our Way (co-written by Jason Griffin) (April 2009)
Young Adult
Two men in their early 20s named Jason—one who is a poet, the other an artist, and one who is black, the other white—form an art collective of two. This novel is a hybrid of poetry collection and novel in verse and autobiography.
REYNOLDS RECOMMENDS
When fresh voices come on the literary scene, it's interesting to learn about their influences and who they enjoy reading. Here’s what Reynolds has to say:
Q: Who do you like to read?
A: Matt de la Pena, Brendan Kiely, John Corey Whaley, Laurie Halse Anderson, Walter Dean Myers, Sharon Draper, Jaqueline Woodson, John Green, Jesmyn Ward, Zadie Smith, Taiye Selasi, Kiese Laymon...
But I will say this, when you're ready, when you're REALLY ready, read James Baldwin, and James Baldwin, and James Baldwin.
Follow Reynolds @jasonreynold83 on both Twitter and Instagram.
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Comments
Books for Boys
Submitted by Max Elliot Anderson (not verified) on August 18, 2016 - 5:42pm
can we not gender books? boys
Submitted by Guest (not verified) on August 22, 2016 - 1:30pm