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Author Talk: Jason Reynolds

On Writing Beloved Characters and Powerful Portrayals

2026-04-30 19:00:00 2026-04-30 20:00:00 America/New_York Author Talk: Jason Reynolds Join us with bestselling author Jason Reynolds as we discuss his latest work, Coach, the fifth–and last–entry in the highly popular Track series. Virtual: Library Speakers Consortium -

Thursday, April 30
7:00pm - 8:00pm

Add to Calendar 2026-04-30 19:00:00 2026-04-30 20:00:00 America/New_York Author Talk: Jason Reynolds Join us with bestselling author Jason Reynolds as we discuss his latest work, Coach, the fifth–and last–entry in the highly popular Track series. Virtual: Library Speakers Consortium -

Join us with bestselling author Jason Reynolds as we discuss his latest work, Coach, the fifth–and last–entry in the highly popular Track series.

Join us in conversation with bestselling author Jason Reynolds as we 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.

Register now to join in on the conversation about the final installment to Jason Reynold’s Track series! 

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 Correta 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 and lives in Washington, DC. You can find his ramblings at JasonWritesBooks.com.


 

The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Orange County Library System.

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Authors - Books - Writing |

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Wed, Feb 04, 10:00am - 11:30am
Online Fiber Arts Classroom
Learn the basics of mosaic crochet with charming sea creature patterns! We will be learning the basic stitches of mosaic, how to read a mosaic chart, and finishing work.

Wed, Feb 04, 10:30am - 11:30am
Virtual ESL Room 2
Join us on ZOOM to practice academic style writing along with more complex vocabulary.

Cancelled
Wed, Feb 04, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
A series of workshops in which students can practice their English speaking and listening skills. Recommended for those with a basic understanding of English.

Wed, Feb 04, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Virtual Room - West Oaks
Welcome to our genealogical road trip! Each meeting we will take on a new state and find out its history, culture and genealogical resources. Hopefully this accelerates your genealogical research!

Wed, Feb 04, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Virtual Room - Windermere
This series is specifically designed for students with no prior French exposure. It combines face-to-face class time with the flexibility of independent learning. Recommended for adults.
This event is full

Wed, Feb 04, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Online Fiber Arts Classroom
Have a great time mingling with other Central Florida fiber artists while working on your craft. Be sure to bring your work in progress, yarn and tools. All levels are welcome.

Wed, Feb 04, 2:00pm - 3:45pm
Virtual Room - Citizenship Inspired
During this 4-session program, students will meet to prepare for the U.S. Naturalization (Citizenship) Test and Interview. 2/3 Session 1; 2/4 Session 2; 2/10 Session 3; 2/11 Session 4.

Wed, Feb 04, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Virtual Melrose Classroom 2
Learn how to set up a VR app development environment for testing and debugging throughout the development process.

Wed, Feb 04, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Virtual Melrose Classroom 2
This ten-part class series teaches the essential skills to develop a third-person exploration game in Unity.

Wed, Feb 04, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Virtual Room - Southeast
Practica tu español! Develop your Spanish language skills through conversation. Conversational topics and themed vocabulary will be provided. Recommended for seniors and adults.

Wed, Feb 04, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Virtual Room - Youth Services 1
Earn community service by collaborating with your peers to test out new library programs, brainstorm new teen services, and more! Recommended for students in grades 6-8.

Wed, Feb 04, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Virtual Melrose Classroom 3
From script to screen, master filmmaking fundamentals: film types, crew roles, and every step from development to distribution. Bring your vision to life on screen!

Wed, Feb 04, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Virtual Room - EPD
Get moving with this energizing and relaxing yoga sequence for all-levels. Tap into the strength, balance, flexibility and relaxation that your body can provide you.

Thu, Feb 05, 9:00am - 9:55am
Virtual Room - West Oaks
Need help breaking through a brick wall? Unsure where to look next? Book a 1-hour private Zoom appointment with Lisa for personalized genealogy guidance.
This event is full

Thu, Feb 05, 10:00am - 11:00am
Virtual Melrose Classroom 1
Learn the basics of using a digital environment for drawing and painting using a pen tablet.

Thu, Feb 05, 10:00am - 10:55am
Virtual Room - West Oaks
Need help breaking through a brick wall? Unsure where to look next? Book a 1-hour private Zoom appointment with Lisa for personalized genealogy guidance.
This event is full

Thu, Feb 05, 10:15am - 11:15am
Online Fiber Arts Classroom
Learn to stitch using Sashiko hand sewing techniques. This Japanese hand sewing technique uses the simple running stitch to form geometric patterns.
This event is full

Thu, Feb 05, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Online Technology Classroom - TEC
Level up your knitting. Learn how to combine knit and purl stitches to create smooth fabric. Techniques include the purl stitch, counting stitches and rows, using stitch markers, and fabric sides.

Thu, Feb 05, 11:00am - 11:55am
Virtual Room - West Oaks
Need help breaking through a brick wall? Unsure where to look next? Book a 1-hour private Zoom appointment with Lisa for personalized genealogy guidance.
This event is full

Cancelled
Thu, Feb 05, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
A series of workshops in which students can practice their English speaking and listening skills. Recommended for those with a basic understanding of English.

Thu, Feb 05, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Online Technology Classroom 1
Cybersecurity is all about the safety of our information when we’re online. Build confidence as you visit websites, create passwords, and respond to email.

Thu, Feb 05, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Virtual Room - Youth Services 1
Earn community service by collaborating with your peers to test out new programs, brainstorm new library services, and more! Recommended for students in grades 9-12.

Thu, Feb 05, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Virtual Melrose Classroom 2
This ten-part class series teaches the essential skills to develop a third-person exploration game in Unity.

Thu, Feb 05, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Virtual ESL Room 2
Join us for a virtual meeting using ZOOM where we will focus on the parts of speech, the organization of sentences, and vocabulary building.

Thu, Feb 05, 5:00pm - 5:30pm
Virtual Melrose Classroom 1
Your one-stop shop for creative questions. Need help, feedback, or direction with a project? Need to review or expand on previous Adobe classes? We’re here to help.

Thu, Feb 05, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Online Technology Classroom - TEC
Learn how to turn your WordPress site into a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) powerhouse and protect your website from hackers.

Thu, Feb 05, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Join us for an unforgettable experience as we chat with Vanessa Riley about her newest book, Fire Sword and Sea, based on the folk story of the female pirate Jacquotte Delahaye. Register

Fri, Feb 06, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Virtual Room - Windermere
This class is structured for people who have had previous exposure to or instruction in French but are not, at the present time, fully fluent. Recommended for adults.

Fri, Feb 06, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Virtual Melrose Classroom 2
This ten-part class series teaches the essential skills to develop a third-person exploration game in Unity.

Fri, Feb 06, 4:45pm - 5:45pm
Virtual Room - Windermere
Join us to practice your English speaking skills with us on a virtual English Conversation Hour. Each session will have specific topics for discussion. Register today!

Sat, Feb 07, 10:30am - 11:30am
Online Technology Classroom - TEC
Create polished documents in Microsoft Word. Navigate the user interface and apply basic word processing techniques to create a formatted letter. Learn important actions like copy, cut, and paste.

Sat, Feb 07, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Online Technology Classroom - TEC
Explore Microsoft Word's proofing features like the spelling and grammar check. Use and modify Word templates with ease. Enhance your document by inserting and formatting pictures.

Sat, Feb 07, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Virtual Room - EPD
What were the standout Science Fiction & Fantasy books of 2025? Join the Orlando Area Science Fiction Society (OASFiS) for a discussion of last year's best books.

Sun, Feb 08, 11:00am - 12:30pm
Virtual Room - West Oaks
Your ancestors are calling—just before lunch. Join us from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to swap stories, solve genealogy puzzles, and share research tips with fellow family history enthusiasts.

Sun, Feb 08, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Virtual Melrose Classroom 1
Learn what this powerful vector application is capable of.

Sun, Feb 08, 1:45pm - 2:15pm
Virtual Melrose Classroom 1
Learn about transparency features, organizing documents with layers, and much more.

Sun, Feb 08, 2:30pm - 3:00pm
Virtual Melrose Classroom 1
Learn best practices for logo design by making a simple but effective logo in Illustrator.

Sun, Feb 08, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Virtual Room - EPD
Join your fellow writers for critique, discussion, and camaraderie. Writers of all genres and experience are welcome. Please attend one meeting before submitting a piece for critique.
This event is full

Mon, Feb 09, 10:00am - 11:00am
Virtual ESL Room 2
Improve your English speaking and pronunciation skills. Intended for advanced English language learners. Recommended ages 18 & up.

Mon, Feb 09, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Online Fiber Arts Classroom
Knit a reversible scarflette using broken rib Tuck Stitches. This beautiful scarflette is knit flat and finished with an applied I-cord.
Registration is now closed

Mon, Feb 09, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Virtual Room - Windermere
Capture your audience attention with a visually compelling presentation. Learn how to insert and customize SmartArt graphics, tables, charts and video.

Mon, Feb 09, 11:00am - 11:40am
Virtual Room - Alafaya
Preschoolers will delight in interactive stories, songs, and rhymes that inspire a love of reading and build early literacy skills. Recommended for ages 3–5.

Mon, Feb 09, 11:30am - 12:30pm
Virtual ESL Room 2
Speaking Clearly is a pronunciation class for beginners. The class is designed to introduce learners to the basics of the sounds of English for pronunciation. Recommended ages 18 & up.

Mon, Feb 09, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Virtual Melrose Classroom 1
Create photorealistic product mockups of branded merchandise using this intuitive 3D application.

Mon, Feb 09, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Virtual Melrose Classroom 2
This ten-part class series teaches the essential skills to develop a third-person exploration game in Unity.

Mon, Feb 09, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Virtual ESL Room 2
This class will cover a wide array of topics from accepting and rejecting an invitation to engaging in small talk. Recommended for those with a basic understanding of English, ages 18 & up.

Mon, Feb 09, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Virtual Room - Alafaya
Connect with other Central Florida fiber artists while working on your craft. Be sure to bring your work in progress, yarn and tools. All levels are welcome. Recommended for ages 18 and up.

Mon, Feb 09, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Virtual Room - Windermere
Customize and organize worksheets with sheet names, color coding, headers, themes, and more. Protect your worksheets with a password and learn how to print your data.

Mon, Feb 09, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Virtual Room - Southeast
Bilingual (Spanish / English) Conversational Interactions with Ms. Brenda

Mon, Feb 09, 6:00pm - 6:30pm
Virtual Melrose Classroom 1
Learn about the Library and Melrose resources offered to those with creative needs, focusing on graphic design, web design, video editing, and more. Get personalized class recommendations.

Mon, Feb 09, 6:45pm - 7:45pm
Virtual ESL Room 2
This class is designed for students with a beginner level knowledge of English. Practice basic vocabulary and grammar.

Mon, Feb 09, 7:00pm - 7:45pm
Virtual Room - Alafaya
Preschoolers will delight in interactive stories, songs, and rhymes that inspire a love of reading and build early literacy skills. Recommended for ages 3–5.

Mon, Feb 09, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Virtual Room - EPD
New York Times bestselling author Ginny Myers Sain will discuss how to write teen romance in novels for Young Adult readers.

Tue, Feb 10, 10:15am - 11:15am
Virtual Room - Southeast
(Spanish B1) Come and learn Spanish grammar with Ms. Brenda.

Tue, Feb 10, 10:30am - 11:30am
Virtual ESL Room 2
Join us for a virtual meeting using ZOOM where we will focus on grammar for complex ideas, including sentence structures, paragraph, and essay writing. 

Tue, Feb 10, 11:30am - 12:15pm
Virtual Room - Southeast
(Spanish A0) Learn and use Spanish for the first time with Ms. Brenda.

Tue, Feb 10, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Virtual Melrose Classroom 2
Animate a bouncy ball and learn how to apply the 12 principles of animation to enhance the 3D animation with Blender.

Tue, Feb 10, 2:00pm - 3:45pm
Virtual Room - Citizenship Inspired
During this 4-session program, students will meet to prepare for the U.S. Naturalization (Citizenship) Test and Interview. 2/3 Session 1; 2/4 Session 2; 2/10 Session 3; 2/11 Session 4.

Tue, Feb 10, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Online Technology Classroom 1
Bring your design ideas to life with Canva, a free graphic design application. Use thousands of templates to gain inspiration and ideas for your next project.

Tue, Feb 10, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Virtual Room - Southeast
(Spanish A1-A2) Come and learn basic Spanish with Ms. Brenda.

Tue, Feb 10, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Virtual Melrose Classroom 2
This ten-part class series teaches the essential skills to develop a third-person exploration game in Unity.

Tue, Feb 10, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Virtual Room - Southeast
(Spanish B1) Come and learn Spanish grammar with Ms. Brenda.

Tue, Feb 10, 6:00pm - 6:45pm
Virtual Room - Southeast
(Spanish A0) Learn and use Spanish for the first time with Ms. Brenda.

Tue, Feb 10, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Virtual Room - EPD
Author Shannon A. Thompson will explore love, loyalty, and rivalry by examining character chemistry, whether it’s passionate romance, steadfast friendship, or high-stakes hero–villain tension.