Author Event: James Ponti in conversation with Jason Reynolds

Thu Sep 04 2025 at 06:00 pm to 08:00 pm UTC-04:00

Nannie J Lee Memorial Recreation Center | Alexandria

Old Town Books
Publisher/HostOld Town Books
Author Event: James Ponti in conversation with Jason Reynolds
Advertisement
Join us for an evening with bestselling, award-winning authors James Ponti and Jason Reynolds for the launch of Ponti's The Hurricane Heist.
About this Event

We are thrilled to invite you to an unforgettable evening with bestselling, award-winning authors James Ponti and Jason Reynolds for the launch of Hurricane Heist, the second book in Ponti’s Sherlock Society series, a fast favorite with our middle-grade customers since the launch of the first last fall.

James Ponti will be in conversation with none other than Jason Reynolds, former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and a true legend in kid lit. The two will regale young and old with stories about their hugely popular books, their writing process, and their ardent commitment to getting kids to fall in love with reading.

The approximately 40-minute talk will be followed by a Q&A with the audience. At its conclusion around 7pm, attendees are welcome to make their way onto the stage where both authors will personalize and sign copies of their books and pose for photos. We ask that you bring no more than ONE book from home to be signed. You will receive a (pre-signed) copy of Hurricane Heist at the door with your admission ticket, and additional books from both authors will be available for purchase before and after the event.

Doors will open at 5:15pm for general seating in the beautiful auditorium at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center. Please allow plenty of time for traffic and parking.

Please note that only one companion ticket is available per order. Please place a separate order for each book-as-ticket and companion ticket set.

About Hurricane Heist:

When a hurricane uncovers new information in a cold case, the Sherlock Society investigates a decades-old heist in this second book in the action-packed and funny New York Times bestselling Sherlock Society middle grade series from Edgar Award–winning author James Ponti!

When a category three hurricane hits Miami Beach, it uncovers a body buried at the renowned Moroccan Hotel. The body is identified as the man who served as the hotel’s bell captain sixty years ago…and the presumed culprit of the million-dollar jewel heist that took place just before his disappearance. Since the bell captain clearly didn’t take off with the goods as had been long believed, the Sherlock Society sets their sights on uncovering the real culprit of the theft. But when the thief may also be implicated in the bell captain’s M**der, even sixty years later, there are people who want the truth to stay buried.


About the Authors:

James Ponti is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of four middle grade book series, including City Spies, Framed, and The Sherlock Society. His novels have been named to forty-five state award lists, optioned by Hollywood, and translated into fifteen languages. He's a two-time Edgar Award-nominee, winning in 2018 for Vanished. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida.


Jason Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, recipient of the MacArthur Genius Grant, a Newbery Award Honoree, a Printz Award Honoree, a two-time National Book Award finalist, a 2024 MacArthur Fellow, a Kirkus Award winner, a UK Carnegie Medal winner, a two-time Walter Dean Myers Award winner, an NAACP Image Award Winner, an Odyssey Award Winner and two-time honoree, and the recipient of multiple Coretta Scott King honors, a Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the Margaret A. Edwards Award. He was also the 2020–2022 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. His many books include All American Boys (cowritten with Brendan Kiely); When I Was the Greatest; The Boy in the Black Suit; Stamped; As Brave as You; For Every One; the Track series (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, Lu, and Coach); Look Both Ways; Stuntboy, in the Meantime; Stuntboy, In-Between Time; Miles Morales Suspended; Ain’t Burned All the Bright (recipient of the Caldecott Honor) and My Name Is Jason. Mine Too. (both cowritten with Jason Griffin); Twenty-Four Seconds from Now...; and Long Way Down, which received a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, and a Coretta Scott King Honor. His debut picture book, There Was a Party for Langston, won a Caldecott Honor and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. He lives in Washington, DC. You can find his ramblings at JasonWritesBooks.com.

Advertisement

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Nannie J Lee Memorial Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, United States

Tickets

USD 11.49 to USD 31.44

Sharing is Caring:

More Events in Alexandria

Eagles vs Cowboys NFL Kickoff
Thu, 04 Sep at 08:20 pm Eagles vs Cowboys NFL Kickoff

Alexandria Bier Garden, 710 King Street, Alexandria, VA, USA

NFL Kickoff Watch Party: Eagles vs Cowboys
Thu, 04 Sep at 08:30 pm NFL Kickoff Watch Party: Eagles vs Cowboys

Alexandria Bier Garden, 710 King Street, Alexandria, VA, USA

Kudzu-Free Friday on the Mount Vernon Trail!
Fri, 05 Sep at 09:00 am Kudzu-Free Friday on the Mount Vernon Trail!

This is just a placeholder location, see eventbrite description for where to meet

Sip & Sway Music Series Under the Stars
Fri, 05 Sep at 11:00 am Sip & Sway Music Series Under the Stars

220 South Union Street, Alexandria, VA

Coffee Porter Returns!
Fri, 05 Sep at 11:00 am Coffee Porter Returns!

3950 Wheeler Ave, Alexandria, VA, United States, Virginia 22304

RobinJordan Art
Fri, 05 Sep at 12:00 pm RobinJordan Art

Port City Brewing Company

\u1333\u1309\u121c  Pagume Art Exhibition 2025
Fri, 05 Sep at 05:00 pm ጳጉሜ Pagume Art Exhibition 2025

Oswald Durant Recreation Center

YHP: Alexandria - Battletech: Friday Night Fights
Fri, 05 Sep at 05:00 pm YHP: Alexandria - Battletech: Friday Night Fights

700 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA, United States, Virginia 22314

Pasta Dinner
Fri, 05 Sep at 06:00 pm Pasta Dinner

400 Cameron St, Alexandria, VA, United States, Virginia 22314

2025 VTS Descendant Gala and Memorial Groundbreaking Ceremony
Fri, 05 Sep at 06:00 pm 2025 VTS Descendant Gala and Memorial Groundbreaking Ceremony

Coffield Refectory at VTS

DIY DATE NIGHT Wood Workshop. Share a Project or Create your Own!
Fri, 05 Sep at 06:30 pm DIY DATE NIGHT Wood Workshop. Share a Project or Create your Own!

1212 King Street, Alexandria, VA, United States, Virginia 22314

Friday Nght O'Connell's Run
Fri, 05 Sep at 06:30 pm Friday Nght O'Connell's Run

Daniel O'Connell's Irish Restaurant and Bar

Alexandria is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Alexandria Events