I did not look at the book before I picked it up because sometimes I like to not know what a book is about. The cover caught my attention and the fact that both men are named Jason. However, when I started reading the book there were just poems and weird looking art. The poems were not bad but I was hoping to learn a little more of their own personal stories. Too bad.

Recently heard about this title and had to read it. I think it is more meaningful since we know where Reynolds has ended up. Love some of the work, especially towards the end of the book. I wonder if the poems are in chronological order?

This is a collaboration between two friends. While the poetry and art would be great alone, it seems like it would only work this well in combination. The poetry tells the story of the two men's friendship and their growth during their late teens and early twenties.

The first collaboration between the Jasons "only" gets 4 stars from me because I read it after their latest collab, Ain't Burned All the Bright, first. This one is much shorter than the other. But still has the same widely diverse artistic style. Some of Griffin's artwork I don't much care for while other pieces I'm in awe of. Reynold's poems are also widely varied stylistically but they pretty much all work for me. But I'm more of a written art lover than a visual art lover. Here are a couple o...

This is possibly Jason Reynolds' first published book. It's a collaboration with his friend, artist Jason Griffin. It's a very personal chronicle of their transition from college into adulthood where the road is not so clearly defined for careers in the arts. It was fun to read Reynolds' early poems. You can see how heavily he was influenced by coursework on poetry - lots of alliteration and rhyme. Compare it A LONG WAY DOWN.

Very few times do you have the opportunity to experience the beginning roots of an author and feel as if you were in some way, with them. The tone, feelings, and grit of Our Story. Our Way has every quality of this feeling. The expressive collages, prose, and images connect to anyone that has wondered if venturing out on their own in search of their inherent dream, would be worth it.You can definitely see glimpses of Reynold's For Everyone text in this very beginning glimpse of the future Nation...

Jason Reynolds can basically do no wrong in my eyes. I love him. I also love this book that he wrote with his best friend, and how the graphics and the words play off each other to bring the truth of their stories to the reader. My favorite poem in the book is "Forced to Lean":"This was supposed to be a cliched poemabout climbing the mountain of life on my ownbut when I sat down to write itI realized thatI had to ask a friend of minefor a piece of paper"This book shows us how important fellowshi...

I picked this up after reading and loving the duos latest collaboration, Ain't Burned All the Bright.A mash-up of art and poetry on various topics and themes. Some clear cut, some took a few read throughs. Some I connected with some not meant for me. Enjoyable work of art and quick read even with going through some poems several times. Will revisit again before returning to the library.

It is odd and interesting. Odd because the layout is so unusual. Interesting because of the back and forth of the authors . They deliberately wrote it in a way where you do not know which voice is which in the book. I cannot tell you which is the author of the poems and which the artist. They both have a voice and both seem as close as brothers. There is humour at the way they have lived when trying to survive and create while living in New York City. Some points about how certain things can rea...

The best part about this book was the love between Jason and Jason. You can tell in the poems and the paintings that they know and care about each other on a grand level - and they truly want what's best for the other. The art didn't do it for me as much as the poetry did, but it's such a short read that that was okay. If you like Jason Reynolds, you'll like this book.

Reviewed by Margaret Waterman for TeensReadToo.comA paintbrush and a pen come together to depict a vividly real portrait of the lives of two Jasons, living in New York City, trying to make their dreams come true.They struggle, surviving on nothing but cereal, coffee, and their friendship - the poems Jason writes and the pictures Jason paints illustrate the journey of two friends (and two fellow artists) working together to ultimately achieve their common goal (though they know they must also be

Two artists expressing themselves through art and poetry. Beautiful.“Men pretend. Men don’t cry. Or write poetryOr paintOr danceOr hugOr kissOr likeOr loveOr listenI hear.”

Two men. Two artists. Same name.Jason and Jason are friends who moved to NYC to become artists. NYC didn't care, so they wrote a book anyway. Jason's words. Jason's artwork.It's quirky and fun and intriguing and perceptive and a little glimpse into what it must have been like to hang with these guys.It's also really tough to find now. I scored an old library copy from an Amazon dealer, but the prices are all over the place. Also, I'm a little sad that the North Vancouver District Library no long...

I love the occasional book of poetry. Poetry + art + friendship = delightfulI will read anything Jason Reynolds writes and I am working my way through his books that I haven’t read. This one from 2009 is full of hope and hard work and dreams (some of which came true). Here’s one I especially enjoyed:It’s hard to walkWith my pantsFalling downSaggin’Blue jeansWith deep Pockets packedWith pain I just needA moment Some timeTo restA momentTo pullOut thePoemsThis book would be a great companion for a

This poetry chapbook/artbook is unique, textured, funny, sweet, and tells a story of two Jasons. The poetry didn't exactly blow me away, but presented a few good "mmm!" moments. Overall, a gem for school libraries. Otherwise, pretty darn good.

I read an e-galley of this book and while they are usually very well put together, this one was not and it makes it very difficult to write a review. I'm not even sure of what I read because there were words missing, sentences so mixed up that i didn't know who was speaking, artwork was chopped into pieces so I couldn't take it all in. There were even a few pages that were upside down, and this being a book about art (among other things), I didn't know if that was intentional or not. Perhaps whe...

A beautiful book of poetry and artcreated by two friends, one black the other white,one an artist the othera poet.Bound togetherby their brotherhood of friendship,frequent nights of cereal for dinner,struggles to make rent,and big dreams.My Name is Jason has an almost multi-genre feel to it even though it is mostly a book of poetry. Jason Griffin's art is raw, confessional, and almost more expressive than the poems. But let's not diminish the poems here. Reynolds's writing has an equally confess...

Ambition and hope in Brooklyn. Not enough specificity to tether the poems to the reader's experiences. This seems more about the process than the product.

It's always interesting to look at the first work of an author as accomplished as Jason Reynolds, and this work was particularly enjoyable because of all of the ways it falls into the cliches and truths of the early life of an artist. The moving to New York, living without two nickels to rub together, the dreaming. This work had the added bonus of championing friendship. I think I liked Reynolds's and Griffin's latest work better, but this one was just fun, and since it's a collection of poetry