The cover of the audiobook "Soundtrack" and a photo of author Jason Reynolds with headline that reads, "Press play on Soundtrack by Jason Reynolds."

Press play on “Soundtrack”: Jason Reynolds' latest audiobook original hits all the right notes

Let’s talk about Jason Reynolds. If you’re a reader, listener, or someone who just loves a good story, you need to read Jason Reynolds (if you aren't already). A #1 New York Times bestselling author and literary powerhouse, Jason has written an impressive lineup of books that are equal parts heartfelt, honest, and unforgettable.

His award-winning work includes Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks, All American Boys (with Brendan Kiely), Long Way Down, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (with Ibram X. Kendi), Stuntboy, in the Meantime (with Raúl the Third), and the visually stunning Ain’t Burned All the Bright (with Jason Griffin). And that’s just scratching the surface (full title list from Jason with links to borrow on the Libby app at the end of this blog!).

Jason started writing poetry at age nine, thanks to his love of rap music, and didn’t read his first novel cover-to-cover until he was 17. That experience helped shape the direction of his own storytelling voice. After years of publishing poetry, his first novel, When I Was the Greatest, hit shelves in 2014—and the accolades haven’t stopped rolling in since.

He’s collected a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, multiple Coretta Scott King Awards, an NAACP Image Award, the Kirkus Prize, and the Schneider Family Book Award, among others. He also served as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature from 2020 to 2022, inspiring readers across the country to share their stories.

Reynolds’ original audiobook is now available

On June 3, Jason’s latest project, an original audiobook called Soundtrack, will be available from Penguin Random House Audio and Listening Library. Set in early-2000s New York City, this vibrant, music-filled story follows a group of teens chasing dreams and finding connection through the beats that bring them together. It’s full of heart, rhythm, and the kind of storytelling only Jason Reynolds can deliver.

So whether you’re diving into his work for the first time or coming back for more, check out his latest, Soundtrack, and find more on the Jason Reynolds reading list below.

About Soundtrack

Stuy wanted to play the drums just like his mom, a founding member of the punk band The Bed-Stuy Magic Dusters. With his mother as his teacher, Stuy starts busking in the subway with his friends Dunks, Alexis, Keith, and Frankie under the name Soundtrack. To everyone’s surprise, including their own, they become an underground sensation, and their success changes the course of their lives.

Read by a full cast and with an original score by Grammy-winning composer Justin Ellington, award-winning author Jason Reynolds shows us a found family coming of age in a wonderfully complex city.

Cast List

Nile Bullock as Stuy
Mekhi Hewling as Dunks
Jade Williams as Keith
Brandon Miles as Alexis
Ryan Vincent Anderson as Uncle Lucky
Amir Royale as Frankie
Jasmin Richardson as Stuy’s Mom
Christopher Grant as Dom
Khaya Fraites as Ashley
Nadine Simmons as Mrs. Dyson
Robb Moreira as Mr. Garcia
Wé Ani as Lisa
Rocky Anicette as Dylan
Brandiss Seward as Frankie’s Mom
with Siho Ellsmore, Tyrell Buckner, Gina Daniels, Karen Murray, Jonathan Beville, and Karla Moore

Go behind the scenes

See the making of Soundtrack from Penguin Random House and Listening Library!

✨ Get a glimpse into the creative process with direct-to-camera interviews featuring Jason, the cast, and the producers.
✨ Step inside the studio and see the musicians in action as they bring Grammy Award–winning composer Justin Ellington’s original score to life.

Watch the 5-minute video:

Jason Reynolds reading list

Here are all the books from Jason and where you can find them in the Libby app:

The Track series:

The Stuntboy series:

In the Meantime | Ebook Audiobook
In-Between Time | Ebook

*Title availability may vary.

Published May 28, 2025

About the Author

Joe Skelley has always been a lover of reading and the library. His love of libraries brought him to OverDrive where he works on the Marketing & Events team and hosts the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Joe loves to read horror, thrillers, magical realism, and the broad spectrum of YA! When he’s not working, Joe’s listening to audiobooks, working on a DIY project, and (most importantly) hanging out with his Boston Terrier, Roscoe.

Recommended Reads, Author Insights