Skip to main content
close
Font size options
Increase or decrease the font size for this website by clicking on the 'A's.
Contrast options
Choose a color combination to give the most comfortable contrast.
Image for event: Beloved Characters and Powerful Portrayals of Resilience

Beloved Characters and Powerful Portrayals of Resilience

A Friends Speaker Series Virtual Author Talk

2026-04-30 19:00:00 2026-04-30 20:00:00 America/New_York Beloved Characters and Powerful Portrayals of Resilience Join a virtual chat with award-winning author Jason Reynolds, whose latest work looks at leadership, growing up, and family through the lens of sports in the final novel of his Track series. Reading Public Library -

Thursday, April 30
7:00pm - 8:00pm

Add to Calendar 2026-04-30 19:00:00 2026-04-30 20:00:00 America/New_York Beloved Characters and Powerful Portrayals of Resilience Join a virtual chat with award-winning author Jason Reynolds, whose latest work looks at leadership, growing up, and family through the lens of sports in the final novel of his Track series. Reading Public Library -

Join a virtual chat with award-winning author Jason Reynolds, whose latest work looks at leadership, growing up, and family through the lens of sports in the final novel of his Track series.

Join us in conversation with bestselling author Jason Reynolds as we discuss his latest work, Coach, the fifth–and last–entry in the highly popular Track series. Following the immersive stories of Ghost, Lu, Patina, and Sunny, it’s finally time for Coach to shine in his own book as we discover: Who was Coach before he became an inspiring leader?

Register now to join the conversation about the final installment to Jason Reynold’s Track series! 

Before Coach was the man who gave caring yet firm-handed guidance to Ghost, Lu, Patina, and Sunny on the Defenders track team, he was little Otie Brody, who was obsessed with Mr. 9.99 (a.k.a. Carl Lewis) and Marty McFly from Back to the Future. Like Mr. 9.99—and his own dad—Otie is a sprinter. Sprint free or die is practically his motto.

Then his dad, who is always away on business trips, comes home with a pair of Jordans. JORDANS. Fine as fine can be. Otie puts them on and feels like he can leap to the moon…maybe even leap like Mr. 9.99 when he won the Olympic gold medal in the long jump. But one morning he wakes up to find his brand-new secret weapon kicks are missing—right off his feet! And Otie just might have a fuzzy memory of his dad easing them off as Otie was sleeping, but that can’t be right, can it?

Unless all the reasons for his dad’s “gone’s” are very different from what he’s been told… Because now, not only are the Jordans missing, but so is his father.

About the Author: Jason Reynolds is an award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author. Jason’s many books include Miles Morales: Spider Man, the Track series (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu), Long Way Down, which received a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, and a Correta Scott King Honor, and Look Both Ways, which was a National Book Award Finalist. Recently named the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Jason has appeared on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and CBS This Morning. He is on faculty at Lesley University, for the Writing for Young People MFA Program and lives in Washington, DC. You can find his ramblings at JasonWritesBooks.com.

This program is brought to you through the generosity of the Friends of the Reading Public Library. Thank you, Friends!


Check out more upcoming virtual author talks and enjoy recordings from past events by exploring our Friends Speaker Series page.

Reading Public Library

rdg@noblenet.org
Phone: 781-944-0840

Hours
Skip Open Hours widget
We're closed Sunday April 05 due to Easter
Mon, Mar 30 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Tue, Mar 31 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Wed, Apr 01 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Thu, Apr 02 1:00PM to 9:00PM
Fri, Apr 03 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Apr 04 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Apr 05 Closed
(Easter)


About the Library

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. To ask questions about accessibility or request accommodations, please contact the library at rdgadmin@noblenet.org.

If the Reading Public schools are closed due to snow, all Children's programming will be canceled.

Upcoming Events

Skip Library Events widget
Tue, Mar 31, 10:00am - 11:00am
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Tue, Mar 31, 10:00am - 10:30am
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Tue, Mar 31, 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room
Registration is now closed

Tue, Mar 31, 4:00pm - 4:30pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room
Registration is now closed

Tue, Mar 31, 5:00pm - 7:30pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Tue, Mar 31, 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Wed, Apr 01, 9:00am - 2:00pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Wed, Apr 01, 9:00am - 9:00pm
Reading Public Library

Wed, Apr 01, 10:00am - 10:30am
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Wed, Apr 01, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Wed, Apr 01, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Reading Public Library - Studio
Registration is now closed

Thu, Apr 02, 1:00pm - 9:00pm
Reading Public Library

Thu, Apr 02, 3:30pm - 4:15pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Thu, Apr 02, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Fri, Apr 03, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Reading Public Library

Fri, Apr 03, 10:00am - 10:35am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Fri, Apr 03, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Reading Public Library - Outdoor Patio

Sat, Apr 04, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Reading Public Library

Sat, Apr 04, 10:00am - 10:30am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Sat, Apr 04, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Sat, Apr 04, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Mon, Apr 06, 9:00am - 9:00pm
Reading Public Library

Mon, Apr 06, 9:15am - 9:30am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Mon, Apr 06, 10:00am - 11:30am
Reading Public Library - Studio

Mon, Apr 06, 10:00am - 11:00am
Reading Public Library - Local History Room
This event is full

Mon, Apr 06, 10:00am - 10:45am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Mon, Apr 06, 11:15am - 12:15pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Mon, Apr 06, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room
This event is full

Mon, Apr 06, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room
This event is full

Tue, Apr 07, 9:00am - 9:00pm
Reading Public Library

Tue, Apr 07, 10:00am - 10:30am
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Tue, Apr 07, 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room
Registration is now closed

Tue, Apr 07, 4:00pm - 4:30pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room
Registration is now closed

Tue, Apr 07, 5:00pm - 7:30pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Tue, Apr 07, 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Tue, Apr 07, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Reading Public Library - Studio

Wed, Apr 08, 9:00am - 2:00pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Wed, Apr 08, 9:00am - 9:00pm
Reading Public Library

Wed, Apr 08, 10:00am - 10:30am
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Wed, Apr 08, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Wed, Apr 08, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Reading Public Library - Teen Space

Wed, Apr 08, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Reading Public Library - Studio

Wed, Apr 08, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room
Registration is now closed

Thu, Apr 09, 1:00pm - 9:00pm
Reading Public Library

Thu, Apr 09, 3:30pm - 4:15pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Thu, Apr 09, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Reading Public Library - Teen Space

Thu, Apr 09, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Reading Public Library - Local History Room

Fri, Apr 10, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Reading Public Library

Fri, Apr 10, 10:00am - 10:40am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Fri, Apr 10, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Fri, Apr 10, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Rescheduled
Sat, Apr 11, 10:00am - 10:30am
New date Saturday, April 18, 10:00am - 10:30am
Reading Public Library

Sat, Apr 11, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B),Community Room A

Mon, Apr 13, 9:15am - 9:30am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Mon, Apr 13, 10:00am - 11:30am
Reading Public Library - Studio

Mon, Apr 13, 10:00am - 10:45am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Mon, Apr 13, 11:15am - 12:15pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Mon, Apr 13, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Mon, Apr 13, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Tue, Apr 14, 10:00am - 10:30am
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Tue, Apr 14, 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room
Registration is now closed

Tue, Apr 14, 4:00pm - 4:30pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room
Registration is now closed

Tue, Apr 14, 5:00pm - 7:30pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Tue, Apr 14, 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Wed, Apr 15, 9:00am - 2:00pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Wed, Apr 15, 10:00am - 10:30am
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Wed, Apr 15, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Wed, Apr 15, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)
Registration opens Wednesday, April 1 2026 at 6:30pm

Wed, Apr 15, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Reading Public Library
This event is full

Thu, Apr 16, 3:30pm - 4:15pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Thu, Apr 16, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Reading Public Library - Studio

Thu, Apr 16, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Fri, Apr 17, 10:00am - 10:45am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)
Registration opens Friday, April 3 2026 at 9:00am

Fri, Apr 17, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Sat, Apr 18, 10:00am - 10:30am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Sat, Apr 18, 11:30am - 12:30pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Tue, Apr 21, 5:00pm - 7:30pm
Reading Public Library - Studio

Tue, Apr 21, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Tue, Apr 21, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Wed, Apr 22, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Wed, Apr 22, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Thu, Apr 23, 5:00pm - 8:45pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B),Conference Room

Thu, Apr 23, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Reading Public Library - Studio

Fri, Apr 24, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Reading Public Library - Studio

Fri, Apr 24, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Reading Public Library - Teen Space

Fri, Apr 24, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Sat, Apr 25, 9:00am - 11:00am
Reading Public Library
Registration opens Monday, April 6 2026 at 9:00am

Sat, Apr 25, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Reading Public Library
Registration opens Monday, April 6 2026 at 9:00am

Sat, Apr 25, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Sat, Apr 25, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Reading Public Library
Registration opens Monday, April 6 2026 at 9:00am

Mon, Apr 27, 9:15am - 9:30am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Mon, Apr 27, 10:00am - 11:30am
Reading Public Library - Studio

Mon, Apr 27, 10:00am - 10:45am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Mon, Apr 27, 11:15am - 12:15pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Mon, Apr 27, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Reading Public Library - Local History Room

Mon, Apr 27, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Reading Public Library - Health Nook

Mon, Apr 27, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Tue, Apr 28, 10:00am - 11:00am
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Tue, Apr 28, 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room
Registration is now closed

Tue, Apr 28, 4:00pm - 4:30pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room
Registration is now closed

Tue, Apr 28, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room
This event is full

Tue, Apr 28, 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Reading Public Library - Library Lawn

Wed, Apr 29, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Wed, Apr 29, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room
Registration opens Wednesday, April 1 2026 at 9:00am

Wed, Apr 29, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room
Registration opens Wednesday, April 15 2026 at 3:30pm

Wed, Apr 29, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Thu, Apr 30, 10:00am - 10:30am
Reading Public Library - Library Lawn

Thu, Apr 30, 3:30pm - 4:15pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Thu, Apr 30, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Reading Public Library - Studio