Jason Reynolds on Finding Your Voice and Helping Others Find Theirs

For bestselling author Jason Reynolds, becoming a writer began long before he considered himself much of a reader. Inspired by rap and hip-hop, Jason started writing poetry at nine years old, eventually finding his way to books and building a career dedicated to helping young people develop their own relationships with reading. This month, Jason joined PMG’s Abby Long for our final DIG In conversation of 2026, sharing his journey and perspective on storytelling, creativity, and the importance of representation in literature.

The conversation came during National Literacy Month in the U.S. and the UK’s National Year of Reading, fitting moments to reflect on the role books can play in young people’s lives. Jason discussed his own unconventional path to becoming an author and why he has devoted so much of his work to young adult and middle-grade readers.

A central theme was representation. Across books including Long Way Down, Look Both Ways, and Twenty-Four Seconds from Now, Jason has created complex young characters, particularly kids of color, whose everyday lives and inner worlds have historically been underrepresented in literature. His approach reflects a belief that young people deserve stories that recognize the fullness of who they are, while also giving readers opportunities to encounter lives and perspectives beyond their own.

Jason and Abby also explored where creativity comes from, what Jason has learned from listening to young people, and how parents, educators, and communities can help kids build meaningful relationships with reading.

A #1 New York Times bestselling author and 2024 MacArthur Fellow, Jason has spent his career demonstrating what can happen when young people find stories that speak to them. His conversation offered a fitting close to this year’s DIG In series and a reminder of the value of making space for more people to see their experiences reflected in the stories we tell.