On Second Thought For Thursday, June 7, 2018

Jason Reynolds didn't get through a whole book until he was 17. He's now a bestselling author, and he's trying to change the way young people feel about reading. Inspired by hip-hop, Reynolds now writes books to get young people to excited about reading. He has various awards to his name, including an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teen and a National Book Award finalist designation for his book "Ghost."

On Second Thought for Thursday, June 7, 2018.

Lauren Groff never thought she would become a Floridian, but then again she also never anticipated that her novel "Fates and Furies" would become President Obama's favorite book of the year in 2015. The bestselling author moved to Gainesville in 2006 for her husband's business. Twelve years later, she's written a collection of short stories set in the state where she says she now realizes she belongs. It's called "Florida." On Second Thought host Virginia Prescott spoke with Groff about the problem with princesses, why women are angry and the sense of dread and wonder that the Sunshine State — which is not always so sunny in her stories — inspires. 

Few people have done more to thoroughly understand Southern identity than Bill Ferris. For the last half century, the folklorist has used photographs, field recordings and film to document the true character of the South. Atlanta-based Dust-to-Digital is out with a collection of Ferris's interviews, films and songs. He joined us from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he's associate director of the Center for the Study of the American South.