As Brave As You is a young adult novel written by Jason Reynolds, published May 3, 2016 by Atheneum. The book describes two African-American brothers from Brooklyn who are sent to spend the summer with their grandfather in Virginia.[1]

As Brave As You
AuthorJason Reynolds
LanguageEnglish
PublishedMay 3, 2016
PublisherAtheneum Books
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (paperback, hardcover)
Pages310
ISBN9781481415903

The book won the Kirkus Prize (2016), as well as the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teen (2017), and the Schneider Family Book Award (2017).

Reception

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As Brave As You received starred reviews from Kirkus,[2] Booklist,[3] Shelf Awareness,[4] and School Library Journal,[5] a five-star review from Common Sense Media.[6]

Kirkus Reviews praised the novel, stating that it is "a rich, nuanced, and highly relatable story" that "will resonate deeply with readers."[2] Booklist's Ilene Cooper similarly referred to it as "a powerful exploration of family, identity, and community."[2] Karin Snelson, writing for Shelf Awareness, called the novel "a beautifully written, poignant story" that "explores complex themes with sensitivity and humor."[4] In The Washington Post, Mary Quattlebaum highlighted how "Reynolds deftly blends humor and heart through lively dialogue and spot-on sibling dynamics."[7] Common Sense Media praised the novel's "authentic and relatable characters" and its "thought-provoking exploration of family dynamics and identity."[6] Writing for School Library Journal, Luann Toth called As Brave As You "[a] richly realized story about life and loss, courage and grace, and what it takes to be a man. Although a tad lengthy, it is easy reading and will be appreciated by a broad audience."[5]

Multiple reviewers discussed Reynold's writing, with Cooper calling it "lyrical and evocative."[3] Publishers Weekly noted that Reynolds' "vivid storytelling and well-developed characters" make the book "a compelling read."[8]

Elizabeth Bush, writing for The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, compared As Brave As You to Christopher Paul Curtis's The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 "with the city kids’ humorous adjustment to rural life, underpinned with a serious subplot that steadily rises in importance."[9]

The New York Public Library,[10] Kirkus Reviews,[2] Shelf Awareness,[11] the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature,[12] The Washington Post,[13] and School Library Journal[14] named As Brave As You one of the best books of the year.

Accolades for As Brave As You
Year Accolade Result Ref.
2016 Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth Selection [15]
Junior Library Guild booklist Selection [14]
Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature Winner [16][2]
2017 Association for Library Service to Children's Notable Children's Books Selection [17]
Association for Library Service to Children's Notable Children's Recordings Selection [18][19]
Coretta Scott King Award Honor [20]
E. B. White Read-Aloud Award Honor [21]
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teen Winner [22]
Schneider Family Book Award Winner [23][24][25]
2019 William Allen White Children's Book Award Nominee [26]
2020 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee [27]

References

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  1. ^ Bush, Elizabeth (2016). "As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 69 (10): 541. doi:10.1353/bcc.2016.0477. ISSN 1558-6766.
  2. ^ a b c d e "As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds". Kirkus Reviews. March 30, 2016. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Cooper, Ilene (May 3, 2016). "As Brave As You". Booklist. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Snelson, Karin (May 17, 2016). "Brave As You". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Toth, Luann. "As Brave as You". School Library Journal. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Clarke, Terreece (May 9, 2016). "As Brave As You - Book Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  7. ^ Meizner, Kathie; Nolan, Abby McGanney; Quattlebaum, Mary (July 4, 2016). "'Being Jazz' and other best YA and children's books this month". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  8. ^ "Children's Book Review: As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds. S&S/Atheneum/Dlouhy, $16.99 (432p) ISBN 978-1-4814-1590-3". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  9. ^ Bush, Elizabeth (2016). "As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 69 (10): 541. doi:10.1353/bcc.2016.0477. ISSN 1558-6766.
  10. ^ Best Books for Kids 2016: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing. New York City, New York: The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations. 2016. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-87104-799-1.
  11. ^ Snelson, Karin (December 13, 2016). "Our 2016 Best Children's & Teen Books of the Year". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  12. ^ "Best Books 2016". Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  13. ^ Smith, Harrison; Quattlebaum, Mary; McGanney Nola, Abby; Meizner, Kathie (November 16, 2016). "Best Children's and Young Adult Books of 2016". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  14. ^ a b "As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  15. ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2016". Booklist. January 1, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  16. ^ "The finalists for this year's Kirkus Prizes". The Washington Post. September 20, 2016. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on November 1, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  17. ^ "Notable Children's Books: 2017". Booklist. March 1, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  18. ^ "2017 Notable Children's Recordings". Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). December 5, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  19. ^ Schulte-Cooper, Laura (January 31, 2017). "ALSC announces 2017 Notable Children's Recordings". American Library Association. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  20. ^ Randall, Kayla (January 4, 2018). "Jason Reynolds Is Revolutionizing the Art of Writing Characters". Washington City Paper. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  21. ^ Hawkins, Rosemary (May 10, 2017). "2017 Indies Choice and E.B. White Read-Aloud Award Winners Announced". the American Booksellers Association. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  22. ^ Aiello, McKenna (February 11, 2017). "NAACP Image Awards 2017 Winners: The Complete List". E! Online. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  23. ^ French, Agatha (January 23, 2017). "American Library Assn.'s 2017 award winners include 'March: Book Three' by Rep. John Lewis". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  24. ^ "as brave as you | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. January 23, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  25. ^ Morales, Macey (January 24, 2017). "2017 Schneider Family Book Awards recipients named". News and Press Center. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  26. ^ "As Brave As You". Goodreads. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  27. ^ "Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Cumulative List 1988-2022" (PDF). Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award. April 6, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2022.