My Name Is Jason. Mine Too.: Our Story. Our Way.
Fun, inspiring memoir by best friends chasing their dreams.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that My Name Is Jason. Mine Too.: Our Story. Our Way. is a collaborative autobiography by poet Jason Reynolds and painter Jason Griffin. The two men have been best friends since college and were roommates in Brooklyn when they were aspiring artists. Now, Reynolds (Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks), a National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, is a New York Times-bestselling author and the recipient of a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, an NAACP Image Award, and multiple Coretta Scott King honors. Griffin is his frequent collaborator and a full-time painter. The book has no language, sex, violence, or substance use and has clear themes of empathy, perseverance, and teamwork.
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What's the Story?
When MY NAME IS JASON. MINE TOO. begins, college best friends Jason Reynolds, a Black poet, and Jason Griffin, a White painter, move to Brooklyn together to live as roommates and pursue their dreams of becoming artists.
Is It Any Good?
This beautiful, inspiring autobiography encourages young people to hold their dreams close -- and their friends closer. In My Name Is Jason. Mine Too.: Our Story. Our Way. Reynolds and Griffin (who previously collaborated on Ain't Burned All the Bright) each display playfulness and humor in their work. Griffin's art communicates a childlike spirit through the use of collage, handwriting, bright colors, and borderless shapes. And Reynolds' poetry uses simple words and observations to raise existential questions young readers can relate to. Most of all, these best friends show readers how great it can be when somebody has your back, no matter what, and how rewarding it is to be that kind of friend.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme of friendship in My Name Is Jason. Mine Too. How are the two Jasons good friends to each other? What does friendship mean to you?
Why do you think the two Jasons initially decided to create this book? How have their lives changed over the course of their friendship?
Persistence is one of the main themes in My Name Is Jason. Mine Too. What kind of support from other people helps you persist when you experience a setback?
Book Details
- Author: Jason Reynolds
- Illustrator: Jason Griffin
- Genre: Autobiography
- Topics: Arts and Dance, Friendship, Great Boy Role Models
- Character Strengths: Empathy, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Atheneum
- Publication date: April 21, 2009
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 18
- Number of pages: 96
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: July 31, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Ain't Burned All the Bright
Emotional, artistic reflection on COVID, racial strife.
-
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks
Moving, interwoven stories of Black middle schoolers.
-
For Every One
Bold, blunt encouragement for dreamers pulls no punches.
For kids who love memoirs and poetry
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