For Every One

Jason Reynolds — 2018

Originally performed at the Kennedy Center for the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and later as a tribute to Walter Dean Myers, this stirring and inspirational poem is New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist Jason Reynolds’s rallying cry to the dreamers of the world. For Every One is just that: for every one. For every one person. For every one dream. But especially for every one kid. The kids who dream of being better than they are. Kids who dream of doing more than they almost dare to dream. Kids who are like Jason Reynolds, a self-professed dreamer. Jason does not claim to know how to make dreams come true; he has, in fact, been fighting on the front line of his own battle to make his own dreams a reality. He expected to make it when he was sixteen. Then eighteen. Then twenty-five. Now, some of those expectations have been realized. But others, the most important ones, lay ahead, and a lot of them involve kids, how to inspire them. All the kids who are scared to dream, or don’t know how to dream, or don’t dare to dream because they’ve NEVER seen a dream come true. Jason wants kids to know that dreams take time. They involve countless struggles. But no matter how many times a dreamer gets beat down, the drive and the passion and the hope never fully extinguish—because just having the dream is the start you need, or you won’t get anywhere anyway, and that is when you have to take a leap of faith. A pitch perfect graduation, baby, or love my kid gift.

Reviews

Ryan @ryandoesread

Jan 19, 2024

4.25 stars what a great poem from the author about the people who dream and for those that need some resilience and strength even if the challenges and the road taken may be shaky and difficult for you to handle. this book makes you feel motivated and inspired at the end to achieve the dream you want to pursue even if this book is not how to achieve that dream in a couple of steps. highly recommended.

Lara Engle@bzzlarabzz

Aug 23, 2023

This is a but of a little rah-rah follow your dreams letter. It's slight, but nice.

Caitlin Hooker@chooker

Mar 12, 2023

Read it, then read it again. Amazing.

Jen Estrella@nightingale03

Dec 24, 2021

At sixteen I thought I would've made it by now. Now I'm making up what making it means as i go. Read this at the right time in my life. So simple but so hard-hitting. I can't wait to read Long Way Down. Also, can we just stop and appreciate this beautiful note: [...] When asked about their dreams and passions, though, many could only answer halfway. They could admit that the dreams were real and that there were things they wanted to do, say, see, and make, but they couldn't get past how foolish it is to be foolish.

Tiffany Robinson@movietiffany

Dec 14, 2021

This was a great read. I loved it!

Lily D@lilyreadsandotherthings

Nov 16, 2021

This hit me hard, I can't tell you why, but this book meant a lot. Every One needs to read this before they die.

Marija M@marijam

Oct 19, 2021

Dreamer, if you're like me, you jump anyways! What a wonderful, short, but important piece of writing. Reynolds' messages he sends through these letters are emotional and inspiring. His way with words is truly astonishing. I cannot wait to read more from Jason Reynolds!

Brianna Brown@brianna1019

Sep 3, 2021

This was super short, like I finished it in like 20 minutes short, but it was oddly inspiring. I would seriously recommend it to anyone who needs a pick-me-up.