When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds (2014)

Reynolds’s debut novel tells a nuanced coming-of-age story in a low-income and predominantly Black New York borough. This is not a romanticized portrait and does not shy away from representing the harsher effects of poverty alongside heartfelt depictions of friendship, family, and community. The story captures the multidimensional nature of life in African American communities.

• When I Was the Greatest on SuperSummary

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely (2015)

This modern-day narrative tells the story of an incident of police brutality through the alternating voices of two high school students, Rashad and Quinn. While Rashad and Quinn never actually meet in the novel, their lives intersect in a powerful way after a violent act of racism rocks their hometown of Springfield, Illinois.

• All American Boys on SuperSummary (2015)

The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds (2015)

This young adult realistic novel follows the main character, Matt Miller, through several months of his senior year after the death of his mother. His grieving process is complicated by his father’s lengthy hospitalization after an accident, which leaves Matt to cope with his sadness alone. Matt discovers unexpected comfort, however, in new friendships.