Coach

Track #5

by Jason Reynolds

In this companion to Jason Reynolds’s award-winning and New York Times bestselling Track series, meet Coach as a boy striving to come into his own as a track star while facing upheaval at home.

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.

Genres: Middle Grade, Sports, Realistic Fiction, Audiobook, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical Fiction

Audible Audio

First published October 14, 2025

About the author

Jason Reynolds is an American author of novels and poetry for young adult and middle-grade audience. After earning a BA in English from The University of Maryland, College Park, Jason Reynolds moved to Brooklyn, New York, where you can often find him walking the four blocks from the train to his apartment talking to himself. Well, not really talking to himself, but just repeating character names and plot lines he thought of on the train, over and over again, because he’s afraid he’ll forget it all before he gets home.

Reviews

[Traci Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason Reynolds is nothing if not consistent. The start of this book was a little slower for me, but the ending was so good and rich. I honestly got to the end and thought I could've done another 30-50 pages.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not read children’s books, but I’ve read and enjoyed this entire series. The characters and situations in these books always seem real and the dialogue is realistic. This book begins with an amusing haircut incident, but then develops into a story with lessons from which both children and adults can learn. My favorite book by this author was “Long Way Down” (not part of a series), but I will continue to read his Track series if he adds to it. The narrator of the audio book did an excellent job. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, yeah, I tore through this one faster than Ghost can run the 100. If you understood that reference (and even if you didn’t) then you simply must preorder this latest episode of the award winning Track series by Jason Reynolds.
Gosh, where do I even start? No spoilers here but if you’ve read the other books then you already know the ending of Coach Brody’s backstory but the ride there is one worth taking. Set in the late 80’s, we get to see 12 year old Otis (Otie) Brody in his early years as a Defender.
I loved this story. Jason Reynolds is like the Carl Lewis of writing engaging stories for kids. He’s somehow managed to take a really nuanced look at addiction—how it starts, the devastating cycle of progression/improvement/regression, and its impact on families and neighborhoods, all while maintaining the humanity of the addicted person and he wraps it all up in a perfectly middle grade appropriate package with bust-a-gut laughs, will he or won’t he sports tension, and even some flickers of nerdy sci fi references. Your sneaker heads will love this. Your athletes will love this. Your kids living in the wake of parental addiction will see themselves in this. I loved how it ended on a hopeful note even though I read the others and I know the story ends much the same way a lot of these real stories end. It left me with tears in my eyes knowing what was to come for these characters but I don’t think it tells a hopeless story. Parental addiction is real and it’s happening right now to kids from all walks of life and telling a story that isn’t realistic isn’t helping anybody. Showing them how you come through that and use it to make your own story better…that’s the stuff of gold medals. 🏅 Coach by Jason Reynolds is book five in the track series and it hits shelves on October 14.

[Jennifer Mangler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to have to read the whole Track series over again. It's been too long, and this last book in the series deserves it. I loved seeing Coach as a kid and learning about how deep his connection to the Defenders is.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 5️⃣ & final book in the Track MG series by @jasonreynolds83
👟
Before Ghost, Patina, Lu and Sunny, there was Coach. Little Otie Brody is twelve and the fastest sprinter on The Defenders track team. He obsessed with getting a new haircut, Carl Lewis and Back to the Future, but he becomes even more obsessed with the Air Jordans his dad gifts him. Now he’s sure he’ll not only run fast, but fly high in the long jump. One morning he wakes up to discover his new kicks are missing and his own father might be to blame.
🥇
This series was already perfection. This was just the cherry on top of the sundae. There’s a reason why so many teachers across the world choose to read Ghost with their students either whole group, small group, book clubs or novel studies. Reynolds is able to write his characters right off the page, where they are like the everyday kids we see in our hallways and in our communities. Reading Coach’s story set in the 1980’s was so nostalgic and sucked me back into this world. I think a reread of the series is in order. Coach releases October 14.

CW: alcohol, addiction, physical violence, assault, blood, rehab, drug abuse, bullying, gangs, abandonment, drug dealing, car accident (recounted), injury, chronic pain

[Lauren Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Reynolds’s ability to blend humor with serious topics. And he has such a way with words! I bookmarked at least 7 passages to share with students as examples of excellent writing.

[Beth Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coach is the prequel I didn’t know I wanted! Jason Reynolds’s Track series has been a favorite of mine since reading it years ago, and my then tween (now teen) son loved them too.

The original Track books tell the story of four kids brought together by their track and field team. Each book has its own unique voice and I particularly love how the story is handed off from one main character to the next in subsequent books. It’s like a literary relay race!

This prequel is a stand alone novel, and Reynolds really shines in these pages. The story is short and tight, to the point but funny, then serious and then very serious, but always with a kid-friendly tone and hopefulness. Readers of the Track series will love learning about the background of how the kids’ coach became Coach, but I hope that this new book will also bring a new group of readers to this series! The prequel works great as a first book, and I imagine that readers will quickly want to read more.

Have your kids (or you!) read this series? It is middle grade GOLD 🤩

And big thanks to Old Town Books for this signed copy! Did you know you can order signed copies from their website and they ship right to your door? I thought I was holding out until the paperback was released, but I ended up not being able to resist.

[Bethany Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to @simonandschuster for the advanced copy to review!

I LOVED that this was Coach’s story as a kid. It was so interesting seeing the adult characters we know and love from the rest of series as kids.

It was also SO AMAZING seeing little Otie and how he became the track dynamo he is, and how he carried on the torch with coaching. His life was so full of moments that his mom was doing her best to keep him from and there were some parts that really yanked on my heartstrings.

I loved this series. It is a perfect middle grade and I am SO GLAD that @jasonreynolds83 came back and finished it up with Coach.

Cannot recommend this series highly enough for the kiddos in your life, and adults could learn a thing or two as well.

[Nikki Boisture · Rating 4 out of 5]

I maintain that there is no more important voice in modern children's lit than Jason Reynolds. Coach is the fifth and final installment of the Track series. It has a really slow start, but even with a slow start there's always enjoyment in Reynolds's voice and style. Those last 40-50 pages of this book are some of his best writing yet.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason Reynolds is a gift. The narrator is fantastic as well.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel bad for every other author trying to write for kids in world where Jason Reynolds exists.

[Haylee Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up!
This LONG awaited addition to the Track series and companion to Ghost was so good. If you have read Ghost but haven’t read the other books in the series, you can still read this one! If you’ve never read Ghost, you can still read this one (but you’ll miss out on a lot of Easter eggs). I’m so excited for my students to get their hands on this one.

Otie Brody is so similar to Castle Cranshaw. Learning more about Coach Brody’s past gave me a new way to look at Ghost and the way he treats the kids on his track team in the future. I love the parallels between both books and the characters who pop up between both! This book features a real discourse around the “just say no” / war on drugs era that is appropriate and important for middle schoolers. Thank you Libro.fm for the ALC! I am soooo glad I got to listen to it early!!

[JoJo Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an unbiased review.

Every book in the Coach series has tackled overcoming and being great in spite of…but this is the first (that I recall) that it tackled what I consider a “minor” characters obstacles. Otie didn’t directly have the issue, but the overall sentiment was that it impacted him and subsequently those experiences, moments of growth, and understanding would all combine to make him the best Coach he could be for the future athletes he would mold.

I peeped Dad from the very beginning, and anxiously awaited the reveal - I’m thankful Mr. Reynolds was kind, decent, dare I say, “human” about how it introduced that aspect directly to the audience. He still made Big Otis lovable and capable of redemption (by societal standards). It was a reminder of the hidden secrets yet plain sight evidence that we so often overlook. I’m tempted to re-read every other book now that I have this lense of Coach.

Moral of the story: No matter how far you seem to have fallen…you can get back up.

You write your story, and it’s “you against you”.

[DaNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otie knows himself to be tops on his Track team, however among his other peers he is vulnerable to humiliation. Which tragically results in the loss of all his hair and his eyebrows by his own hand, helped along by his loving mother. If only his father had not been away.

Knowing Coach’s story from GHOST it was interesting to watch this flashback book circle around to its inevitable end. I appreciated how deftly Reynolds dealt with addiction and living in an area that was both reliant and decimated by the illegal drug industry without making the book too heavy or too sad. It showed a lot of respect for those who live their lives in like neighborhoods. He did a masterful job showing three-dimensional characters.

GHOST was one of our battle books last year, and the students loved it. I do wonder, why the choice was made not to anchor this book more tightly to the grown man we know as Coach. I sort of expected bookend chapters. For a reader who didn’t have the context, this might seem like a book with little hope and a lot of disappointments.

I did do an unplanned watch of Back to the Future directly after finishing this book yesterday.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful wrap-up to a beloved middle grade realistic fiction series about sports, family, and following your dreams. It made me reflect on my own beloved Coach (we called him "Coachie") when I was in late elementary/ early middle school years. Having a trusted adult that you are not related to that wants you to do/be/try your best was really transformative at that age. You could see where he got his confidence, his curiosity, his support, and his drive. I also love how authentic the interactions are between friends; I LOL'd multiple times during the razzing and found it so delightful to hear how young people show appreciation and adoration towards one another.

This is a definite must-read for fans of Jason Reynolds and the Track series.

[K Whatsherface · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was browsing on hoopla, as you do and this book popped up. I read the track series back in 2019. I didnt think we get more. so of course I needed to read this.

in the beginning of this book, Otie cuts his forehead. I love a dark romance series with serial killers. in the newest one I read, there is a bird eating an eyeball. for some reason, this scene of this kid accidentally shaving off some skin on his forehead bothered me more than. for the record, it's not all that graphic. it was just easier for me to imagine it.

[Jay Dionne · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I looooooove the Track series. So when I heard there was going to be another book I placed my hold at the library immediately! This was so good. I had no idea Jason was gone tear me up at the end like that. After reading this I’ve figured out that Coach and I are around the same age. That piece of nostalgia from the time period was superb! Jason Reynolds is an auto buy and he proves why every time

[Tyra Damm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in Reynolds’ track series. At last, we get the backstory on Coach, leader of the Defenders. There are so many fun references for fans of the series — as well as some tough topics, a Reynolds staple. I admire how young Otie is able to see the good in people – where 12-year-old me would have seen only the bad.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved the Track series (and how could you not), then this is a must read. I highly recommend picking up the entire series on audio – they are fabulous. You must, though, read the rest of the series before diving into this one. And then once you do you will be so happy. It’s everything we love about Jason Reynolds – it’s funny and thoughtful and kind and emotional and I just wanted to hug everyone in the story. Thank you, thank you, for one more entry into this series. It was just what we needed. Five stars.

[Tranyce Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book back in October and forgot to update its status on here. I had the privilege of meeting Jason at Parnassus. He's such a great guy and writer. Anyone looking for a great read should pick this final edition of the track series up. Coach doesn't disappoint. 😃

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reynolds is top notch. Highly recommended for Middle School students.

[Amy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much needed book for the best series ever.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. I think It’s been too long since I read the series, so this didn’t pack as much of a punch until the very end. Still love Jason Reynolds with my whole heart.

[Tena Edlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually think this is my favorite of the series, but I am a sucker for a good prequel. This book ties everything together, and I really didn’t know how it was going to turn out until close to the end. I’m glad you gave in to the pressure to write it, JR!

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite what I was expecting. A little mature for it to join the rest of the series in my classroom library. Well written and I enjoyed it though.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid entry in the Track series. This one made me want to reread the first book to remember more about the coach.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coach by Jason Reynolds is the 5th and final book in the middle grade Track series. Coach is a book about Coach Brody, the current coach of the defenders in the 2020s. The four books leading up to Coach have been about Coach Brody mentoring the young middle graders of the team. This book is set in the past, the 1980s, where Otis Body is a middle grader on the defenders track team with his dad as the assistant coach. Brody is a dreamer looking to the future, where he dreams of being an Olympian. Carl Lewis is his idol as a runner of the 100 meters. Brody also idolizes his father, who was a runner too, but a car accident changed his trajectory. Coach is a story about taking big leaps and finding your purpose in life. One plot point is finding out Carl Lewis also does the long jump, which inspires Otis to try it and take the leap. The story sadly never flashes back to the future, but Reynolds ended Lu pretty emotionally with the whole team. Reynolds has a lot of fun 80s moments with Michael Jordon, Michael Jackson, and Michael J. Fox. I did not pick up on that while reading that they are all Michael J's. The novel has a funny beginning with a shaving scene that I laughed in horror at. The story takes a while to set up the emotional impact that Reynolds is known for. The end delivers a very touching and satisfying moment. I think, like all the books in the Track series, it could be read out of order. But there is so much payoff if you have read all the books and know the characters' fates in the end. I teared up knowing this is the greatest day in one character's life, with everything soon going downhill. I read Coach thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing. Coach by Jason Reynolds was first published on October 14, 2025.

Why did I read Coach by Jason Reynolds? I was drawn to Coach since I was a former football coach at Freshman High School Football. The coaching scenes are my favorite. Jason Reynolds is a very special writer, whom I will always be a fan of. I was able to go to a very special book signing with a meet and greet for Coach.

Plot Summary: Otis Brody is obsessed with the past and the future. He draws time machines in his spare time, all thanks to his favorite movie, Back to the Future. If he could go back in the past, he would stop his dad from getting in an accident that messed up his back. And if he could go into the future, it would be to see himself win an Olympic gold medal. In the present day, he is a great runner with messed up hair; his mother doesn't want him going to the Barber shop without his father, who is out of town. So he decides to cut it him self with his mother's razor, but it does not go well. He decides to shave his head bald. When he goes to the track, he said it was so he could get more aerodynamic. His team is suspect. So on all the drills, he goes as fast as he can, winning them. But he is done for the next day of practice as his legs start cramping up. But the next day at practice is when Carl Lewis's trainer for the Junior Olympics is coming. Brody may have to change his plans.

What I Liked: The pop culture references were on point. I love that the drug dealer in the neighborhood drives a Delorian. The gang is called the cutters. They operate out of a barber shop. I do like how Reynolds wrote the Barber shop scene with the dad. I knew what was happening because I'm a grown man reading this, but I think it will be a scene that they won't understand until the end. The humor is throughout the whole book. Otis's dreams are out of this world. I love the scene with the eyebrows. I loved the cab driver and what he represented. He was such a role model that Otis drives a cab in the future and does the same thing for people. This book has a great scene about addiction and how it can tear families apart. I loved the scene where they discuss why Jordan jumps so high and why his mouth is open. The idea that he keeps his mouth open to eat the air had me laughing out loud. And the science teacher's response was great. The coach teaching Otis how to do the long jump was filled with so many great coaching moments. I loved Mr. Charles, the shopkeeper. I loved it when Otis won all the races after he shaved himself bald. The other teammates start plucking at their hair to be faster.

What I Disliked: I wanted to see Coach as a grown-up with his team again. Goose did not fit my version of how he was in the future. I saw none of the charm he had in the future as Lu's dad. I felt it took a little too long for Otis's dad to enter the story. I felt for a while, oh, are we not going to deal with anything heavy in this story? When the heavy comes, it comes hard and hits me in the chest.

Recommendation: Coach is a good way to end the Track series. The writing for the entire series has been excellent. The story doesn't talk down to kids but provides real-life lessons that affect teens and adults. I recommend my followers read Coach.

Rating: Coach by Jason Reynolds. I rated 4.1 out of 5.

Ranking: I have read and reviewed 7 books by Jason Reynolds. I will rank them from favorite to least favorite: 1) Long Way Down, 2) Ghost, 3) Coach, 4) Sunny, 5) Patina, 6) Lu, and 7) Miles Morales: Spider-Man.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otie's having a hard time. Not only is his father rarely at home thanks to his job, but one of the kids at school has just made fun of Otie during the lunch talent show and had the entire school laughing at him and his hair. Since Otie's father never seems to have enough time to take him to the barber shop, he decides to tackle the job himself and ends up bald. But that works, since he's on the track team and can claim he's trying to improve his running time by being more aerodynamic. After all, he's a great runner and has dreams of making the Junior Olympic team. When his father returns from the latest business trip with a pair of Air Jordon's in hand, Otie's over the moon. Unfortunately, his mother's fears that they might be stolen are dampening his fun with the amazing shoes. Plus, other oddities are beginning to make Otie wonder if his father got them through questionable means...or maybe, even his job isn't all that it seems. Add the pressures of track and school, and Otie's got a lot to maneuver.

Like the other books in the series, the author hits Otie and his life with natural finesse. Every moment comes across smoothly and lets the reader feel as if they're stepping right into the character's world. The problems Otie faces come across with familiarity and draw sympathy, and his reactions are very understandable...even when he makes mistakes. His family is supportive and loving, but they aren't perfect. Even his school life and friendships are packed with ups and downs. Some themes are a bit more difficult and are brought across with the rawness needed to make the sit. So, it's a well-rounded read with a lot to offer.

It's no problem to sink right into the scenes and enjoy following Otie, family, and friends. It was nice to see the series now shifting to the Coach of the team, and the backstory gives his character quite a bit more understanding and depth. It did take a minute to realize that, unlike the other books, this one jumps back to the late 1980's to visit the Coach in his early teenage years. A quick mention of this would have been helpful in the beginning. But that said, it's an enjoyable read which hits home and provokes thought. Plus, the sport aspect always adds a nice twist.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the 1980s, Otie lives in NYC, where he spends his time cracking on (and getting cracked on) by his friends and schoolmates, watching Back to the Future (he designs all sorts of time machines in his free time--like a hoodie time machine or a desk time machine), watching Carl Lewis in the Olympics, and sprinting on his local running team. He's really fast, like Carl Lewis, and hopes to get on the Junior Olympics. There's even someone coming to watch their team who's scouting for the Junior Olympics, and as the team's fastest sprinter, Otie has a good chance. But then there's the snowballing incident of his hair in such need of a trim that the jokes at school are getting really mean-spirited and hurtful, his dad being away (again!) on a business trip and his mom refusing to take Otie to the barbershop because she says dangerous people hang out there (she's not wrong), Otie taking his haircut into his own hands with disastrous results, and it goes on and on. What makes it better is his dad coming back from his trip with a pair of Air Jordans, which Otie can hardly believe. It's a dream come true! ...Or is it?

I've loved the rest of this series and thought I'd love this one as well, but while I liked it, I didn't love it. There's very little action beyond the bad haircut for the first third of the book--just a lot of charged repartee that got kind of tiresome because there was so much of it. There is a lot of world-building here, excellently done because it's subtle, and the clues about what's going on in the background of Otie's world are equally subtle, but clearly point towards what's going on with his father. For once, though, the individual characters beyond Otie and his family are not sticking in my head. So, if kids haven't read and loved the rest of the series, they can probably skip this one. Also, the audiobook reader basically shouted the entire book, which was kind of exhausting even if it did give Otie a lot of character--wild enthusiasm in search of a target. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, what an ending to a great series! Jason Reynolds takes a well-deserved victory lap in this story about Coach, the mentor of the track stars in his four previous books--Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu. Fans of the series will be interested in learning about Coach's background. When he was just a kid, Otis Brody, Jr. dreamed of Olympic and Junior Olympics glory, just like his father and Carl Lewis did. But bullying at school and his father's frequent absences for his job sometimes get him down. The best part of his days are spent training with Coach Marvin and his father. When a haircut gone wrong results in a bad head and no eyebrows, Otis plays it off as an attempt to become more aerodynamic and speedier. And when his father arrives home with new Jordan shoes, he's convinced that his new footwear will allow him to run faster and jump higher. But there are secrets that his family and some of those around him have been keeping that rock him to the core when he finds out. Reynolds builds the tension in his story perfectly, blending in descriptions of Otis's neighborhood and secondary characters that hint at what's to come. As usual, the writing is stellar, the characters believable, and the message hopeful. Small but meaningful touches such as this one about his home life will resonate with readers, revealing more than they conceal: "...my father was the cook of the family. So when he was gone, the meals went from home-cooked to home-poured. She set the bowl on the coffee table, touched the napkin to her tongue before scrubbing the lipstick off her lips. The lipstick she put on every morning along with that powder stuff. And the pencil she used to outline everything like I used to do in my coloring book when I was little" (p. 61). This one is definitely worth a read and a reread.