Register 245 Seats Remaining
#1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds joins us in a conversation about Twenty-Four Seconds From Now, a YA love story.
5:30 p.m. | Seating begins, book sale by Prologue Bookshop
6 p.m. | Jason Reynolds In Conversation with Karen Hewitt
6:45 p.m.| Audience Q&A
7:00 p.m. | Book sale and signing
Jason Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of many award-winning books, including Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks, All American Boys (with Brendan Kiely), Long Way Down, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (with Ibram X. Kendi), Stuntboy, in the Meantime (illustrated by Raúl the Third), and Ain’t Burned All the Bright (with artwork by Jason Griffin). The recipient of a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, an NAACP Image Award, and multiple Coretta Scott King honors, 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, Good Morning America, and various media outlets. He is on faculty at Lesley University, for the Writing for Young People MFA Program and lives in Washington, DC.
Twenty-four months ago: Neon gets chased by a dog all around the parking lot of a church. Not his finest moment. And definitely one he would have loved to forget if it weren’t for the dog’s owner: Aria. Dressed in sweats, a t-shirt, hair in a ponytail. Aria. Way more than fine.
Twenty-four weeks ago: Neon’s dad insists on talking to him about tenderness and intimacy. Neon and Aria are definitely in love, and while they haven’t taken that next big step…yet, they’ve starting talking about…that.
Twenty-four days ago: Neon’s mom finds her—gulp—bra in his room. Hey! No judging! Those hook thingies are complicated! So he’d figured he’d better practice, what with the big day only a month away.
Twenty-four minutes ago: Neon leaves his shift at work at his dad’s bingo hall, making sure to bring some chicken tenders for Aria. They’re not candlelight and they definitely aren’t caviar, but they are her favorite.
And right this second? Neon is locked in Aria’s bathroom, completely freaking out because twenty-four seconds from now he and Aria are about to…about to… Well, they won’t do anything if he can’t get out of his own head (all the advice, insecurities, and what ifs) and out of this bathroom!
ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Karen Hewitt (All pronouns) is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and cultural strategist whose work bridges storytelling, healing, and leadership. Their performance persona Karen Marie can be found singing, drumming, or spitting poetry. They are the author of Grounded: A Collection of Healing Spoken Word Poetry (2019) and Fire: Poetic Memoirs of a Movement (2022), and a contributor to the anthologies The Black Woman’s Guide to Love and Business (2023) and Culture Impact: Strategies to Create World-Changing Workplaces (2024). As the Founder of K Hewitt Consulting and The Culture of You, and Co-Founder of The Ohio REST Collective, Karen helps beloved community and organizations foster belonging, connection, and transformation through story and strategy. Karen's work, rooted in Black and LGBTQ+ wisdom, invites audiences to explore authenticity, courage, and collective healing.
EVENT DETAILS
The event is free to the public but due to limited seating registration is requested.
Jason's books will be sold on site by Prologue Bookshop.
Readers are limited to ONE item, purchased from Prologue Bookshop on site. No personalizations. Please purchase a book to join the signing line. Signing limitations are subject to change.
No posed photos please, but you may take photos while he is signing.
Free parking available in Main Library's attached garage, while available.
AGE GROUP: | Adults | 12 - 17 years |
EVENT TYPE: | Authors at the Library | Author Visit |
