He’s a young adult novelist who’s truly made a name for himself, especially with his award-winning books like When I Was the Greatest and Ghost. Over the years, he’s built an impressive body of work that includes titles such as As Brave as You, All American Boys, The Boy in the Black Suit, and My Name is Jason. Mine Too. Before all the acclaim, though, life looked a bit different. He first earned a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland, which was just the beginning of his journey. After graduation, he moved to Brooklyn, where he took on various odd jobs while working hard to make it as a writer. Things really started to change when he landed his second book deal—this one for When I Was the Greatest—which ended up being a major breakthrough.
Growing up in Washington D.C., he discovered his passion for writing at a very young age. In fact, by the time he was eight, he already dreamed of becoming a poet. That early spark clearly never faded. He comes from a close-knit family and has three siblings, which may have influenced the rich, authentic relationships often seen in his stories. Today, he continues to inspire readers, proving time and again that his voice is not only powerful but necessary in young adult literature. And honestly, with each new book, he just keeps getting better.
He was a finalist for the 2016 National Book Award in Young People’s Literature for his compelling novel Ghost, a work that truly showcased his storytelling talent. And before that, in 2015, he earned the prestigious Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent thanks to his powerful debut, When I Was the Greatest. His journey as a writer has been marked by recognition and praise, and he continues to make an impact with his voice. He’s definitely someone to watch—his name keeps coming up in conversations about modern youth literature, and for good reason.