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Jason Reynolds Presented wtih Library Speakers Consortium

Writing Beloved Characters and Portrayals of Resilience

2026-04-30 18:00:00 2026-04-30 19:00:00 America/Chicago Jason Reynolds Presented wtih Library Speakers Consortium Virtual -

Thursday, April 30
6:00pm - 7:00pm

Add to Calendar 2026-04-30 18:00:00 2026-04-30 19:00:00 America/Chicago Jason Reynolds Presented wtih Library Speakers Consortium Join us for a virtual event with bestselling author Jason Reynolds to discuss his latest work, "Coach," the last entry in the popular "Track" series. Virtual -

Join us for a virtual event with bestselling author Jason Reynolds to discuss his latest work, "Coach," the last entry in the popular "Track" series.

Join us for a virtual event with bestselling author Jason Reynolds to 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?


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 Coretta 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. 

Presented with Library Speakers Consortium.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. 

AGE GROUP: | Teens | Kids | Family |

EVENT TYPE: | Books & Authors |

TAGS: | Kids | Author Events |

Highland Park Public Library
Phone: 847-432-0216
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Upcoming events

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Game Club
Sat, Mar 14, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Adult Services
Join us and play board games! Library staff will be available to help you choose a game and learn the rules!
Grab&Go Paper Pie Slice - Ages 5 to 14
Mon, Mar 16, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Pi Day is March 14th, but it's never too late to celebrate! Learn about circles and create a cute slice of paper pie.
Rock & Read - A Toddler Storytime
Mon, Mar 16, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Join Miss Kelly in the Activity Room for a musical storytime! For ages 18 months - 3 years. Check in at Youth desk starting 30 min prior to event. This event will take place in the Brenner Room.
Library Board Meeting
Mon, Mar 16, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
The Library Board of Trustees regularly meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m., except where indicated otherwise.
Grab&Go Paper Pie Slice - Ages 5 to 14
Tue, Mar 17, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Pi Day is March 14th, but it's never too late to celebrate! Learn about circles and create a cute slice of paper pie.
Grab&Go Paper Pie Slice - Ages 5 to 14
Wed, Mar 18, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Pi Day is March 14th, but it's never too late to celebrate! Learn about circles and create a cute slice of paper pie.
Grab&Go Paper Pie Slice - Ages 5 to 14
Thu, Mar 19, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Pi Day is March 14th, but it's never too late to celebrate! Learn about circles and create a cute slice of paper pie.
Social Worker in the Library - Trabajadora Social en la Biblioteca
Thu, Mar 19, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.
Rock & Read 10:30 - A Toddler Storytime
Thu, Mar 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Join Miss Kelly in the Activity Room for a musical storytime! For ages 18 months - 3 years. Check in at Youth desk starting 30 min prior to event. This event will take place in the Brenner Room.
Rock & Read 11:30 - A Toddler Storytime
Thu, Mar 19, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Join Miss Kelly in the Activity Room for a musical storytime! For ages 18 months - 3 years. Check in at Youth desk starting 30 min prior to event. This event will take place in the Brenner Room.
Memory Cafe - Building Community and Connections
Thu, Mar 19, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Highland Park Public Library
Join us for Memory Café, a welcoming and safe space for individuals with memory loss and mild cognitive impairment. Caregivers and loved ones are encouraged to attend.
Grab&Go Paper Pie Slice - Ages 5 to 14
Fri, Mar 20, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Pi Day is March 14th, but it's never too late to celebrate! Learn about circles and create a cute slice of paper pie.
Social Worker in the Library - Trabajadora Social en la Biblioteca
Fri, Mar 20, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.
Grab&Go Paper Pie Slice - Ages 5 to 14
Sat, Mar 21, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Pi Day is March 14th, but it's never too late to celebrate! Learn about circles and create a cute slice of paper pie.
Bring Your Own Craft - Event takes place at Curt's Cafe in Highland Park
Sat, Mar 21, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Curt's Cafe in Highland Park
Bring a craft project to work on and meet fellow crafters in your community. This program is suitable for adults.
Grab&Go Paper Pie Slice - Ages 5 to 14
Sun, Mar 22, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Pi Day is March 14th, but it's never too late to celebrate! Learn about circles and create a cute slice of paper pie.
Phone Photography Tips - iPhone and Android
Mon, Mar 23, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Learn to take better photos using your iPhone's built-in features like portrait mode, editing tools, and composition basics.
America's Failed Response to the Opioid Crisis - Virtual event with Shoshana Walter and Barbara Kingsolver
Tue, Mar 24, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Highland Park Public Library
A virtual event. Award-winning journalist Shoshana Walter and bestselling and award-winning author Barbara Kingsolver discuss Walter's book "Rehab: An American Scandal." Register
Baby Booktime - 0-18 months with caregiver
Wed, Mar 25, 10:00am - 10:30am
Highland Park Public Library - Activity Room
Registration not required but space is limited. Check in at the Youth Services desk up to 30 min. prior to start time. Ages 0 - 18 months.
Baby Booktime - 0-18 months with caregiver
Wed, Mar 25, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Activity Room
Registration not required but space is limited. Check in at the Youth Services desk up to 30 min. prior to start time. Ages 0 - 18 months.
Bracelet-Making Workshop -
Wed, Mar 25, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Activity Room
Stop by any time from 2-5 pm to make bracelets for yourself or to share with your friends.
Social Worker in the Library - Trabajadora Social en la Biblioteca
Thu, Mar 26, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.
Duckies in Danger: Zip Line Challenge - Ages 5 to 14
Thu, Mar 26, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Activity Room
Take the zip line challenge! Your mission is to build a container that will safely carry a rubber duck across a zip line...with limited materials. Drop by the Brenner Room to take the challenge.
Film Discussion Group - Stand by Me
Thu, Mar 26, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Highland Park Public Library - Meeting Room 8
Join us each month as we discuss a movie and/or film genre.
Discussions with Davis - Black Dogs by Ian McEwan
Thu, Mar 26, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Davis Schneiderman, Executive Director of the Krebs Center for the Humanities and Professor of English at Lake Forest College, leads the book discussion of Black Dogs by Ian McEwan.
Social Worker in the Library - Trabajadora Social en la Biblioteca
Fri, Mar 27, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.
The Revolutionists by Lauren Gunderson
Sat, Mar 28, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Deerfield Public Library - Lower level meeting rooms
Celebrate Women's History Month with this vibrant play performance from Violet Surprise Theatre at Deerfield Public Library!
Rock & Read - A Toddler Storytime
Mon, Mar 30, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Join Miss Kelly in the Activity Room for a musical storytime! For ages 18 months - 3 years. Check in at Youth desk starting 30 min prior to event. This event will take place in the Brenner Room.
Speed Puzzle Competition - Carrera de Rompecabezas
Mon, Mar 30, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
350 pieces. One hour. Do you have what it takes to win? Register with a friend!/ 350 piezas. Una hora. ¿Tienes lo necesario para ganar? ¡Regístrate con un amigo!
This event is full
Readers' Round Table
Tue, Mar 31, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Meeting Room 8
Love to read? Always looking for book recommendations? Meet fellow bibliophiles at Readers' Round Table! Join us in Room #8.
Civic Empowerment Series - An Introduction to News Media Literacy
Tue, Mar 31, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Virtual
Join us virtually and learn skills for assessing the credibility of information from different outlets and strategies for building a set of reliable sources.Register
Late Opening
Wed, Apr 01, 11:00am - 9:00pm
Highland Park Public Library
The library will open at 11am on the first Wednesday of each month for staff meetings except December (1st Friday).
Social Worker in the Library - Trabajadora Social en la Biblioteca
Thu, Apr 02, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.
Rock & Read 10:30 - A Toddler Storytime
Thu, Apr 02, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Join Miss Kelly in the Activity Room for a musical storytime! For ages 18 months - 3 years. Check in at Youth desk starting 30 min prior to event. This event will take place in the Brenner Room.
Rock & Read 11:30 - A Toddler Storytime
Thu, Apr 02, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Join Miss Kelly in the Activity Room for a musical storytime! For ages 18 months - 3 years. Check in at Youth desk starting 30 min prior to event. This event will take place in the Brenner Room.
"On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts" - Virtaul Event with Smithsonian Curator Emerita Valerie Neal
Thu, Apr 02, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Virtual
Library Speakers Consortium presents a virtual event -- a journey through the history of U.S. women astronauts with Valerie Neal, emerita curator from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Register
Beginning Graphic Novel Club
Thu, Apr 02, 4:30pm - 5:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Younger graphic novel fans! Join us for discussion, fun activities and unique crafts as we share the best, the worst, and everything in between graphic novels. For ages 6-8
Social Worker in the Library - Trabajadora Social en la Biblioteca
Fri, Apr 03, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.
Library is closed
Sun, Apr 05, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Easter
Origami Challenge
Mon, Apr 06, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14
Panel to Panel: A Graphic Novel Book Club - For kids ages 9 - 11
Mon, Apr 06, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Love Graphic Novels? Come talk about them!
Origami Challenge
Tue, Apr 07, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14
Origami Challenge
Wed, Apr 08, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14
Baby Booktime Backup - 0-18 months with caregiver
Wed, Apr 08, 10:00am - 10:30am
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Registration not required but space is limited. Check in at the Youth Services desk up to 30 min. prior to start time. Ages 0 - 18 months.
Baby Booktime Backup - 0-18 months with caregiver
Wed, Apr 08, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Registration not required but space is limited. Check in at the Youth Services desk up to 30 min. prior to start time. Ages 0 - 18 months.
Teen Time - DIY Block Print Journal
Wed, Apr 08, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Highland Park Public Library - Meeting Room 8
Learn how to make a block print using Styrofoam and decorate a journal cover! Snacks provided! Drop ins welcome.
Origami Challenge
Thu, Apr 09, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14
Social Worker in the Library - Trabajadora Social en la Biblioteca
Thu, Apr 09, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.
PJ Storytime
Thu, Apr 09, 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Put on your jammies and join us for a fun family storytime featuring stories, songs, and more. Registration is not required, but space is limited. Check in at Youth Desk begins at 6 p.m.
Origami Challenge
Fri, Apr 10, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14
Social Worker in the Library - Trabajadora Social en la Biblioteca
Fri, Apr 10, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.
Intro to Vinyl Cutting
Fri, Apr 10, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Adult Services
Learn how to use our vinyl cutter and personalize your swag with our pre-cut designs.
Origami Challenge
Sat, Apr 11, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14
Game Club
Sat, Apr 11, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Adult Services
Join us and play board games! Library staff will be available to help you choose a game and learn the rules!
Origami Challenge
Sun, Apr 12, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14
Rock & Read - A Toddler Storytime
Mon, Apr 13, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Join Miss Kelly in the Activity Room for a musical storytime! For ages 18 months - 3 years. Check in at Youth desk starting 30 min prior to event. This event will take place in the Brenner Room.
See all events