Long Way Down
Long Way Down
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Book Summary
| An intense snapshot of the chain reaction caused by pulling a trigger.” —Booklist (starred review) “Astonishing.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “A tour de force.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) A Newbery Honor Book A Coretta Scott King Honor Book A Printz Honor Book A Time Best YA Book of All Time (2021) A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner for Young Adult Literature Longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Winner of the Walter Dean Myers Award An Edgar Award Winner for Best Young Adult Fiction Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner An Entertainment Weekly Best YA Book of 2017 A Vulture Best YA Book of 2017 A Buzzfeed Best YA Book of 2017 An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds’s electrifying novel that takes place in sixty potent seconds—the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he’s going to murder the guy who killed his brother. A cannon. A strap. A piece. A biscuit. A burner. A heater. A chopper. A gat. A hammer A tool for RULE Or, you can call it a gun. That’s what fifteen-year-old Will has shoved in the back waistband of his jeans. See, his brother Shawn was just murdered. And Will knows the rules. No crying. No snitching. Revenge. That’s where Will’s now heading, with that gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, the gun that was his brother’s gun. He gets on the elevator, seventh floor, stoked. He knows who he’s after. Or does he? As the elevator stops on the sixth floor, on comes Buck. Buck, Will finds out, is who gave Shawn the gun before Will took the gun. Buck tells Will to check that the gun is even loaded. And that’s when Will sees that one bullet is missing. And the only one who could have fired Shawn’s gun was Shawn. Huh. Will didn’t know that Shawn had ever actually USED his gun. Bigger huh. BUCK IS DEAD. But Buck’s in the elevator? Just as Will’s trying to think this through, the door to the next floor opens. A teenage girl gets on, waves away the smoke from Dead Buck’s cigarette. Will doesn’t know her, but she knew him. Knew. When they were eight. And stray bullets had cut through the playground, and Will had tried to cover her, but she was hit anyway, and so what she wants to know, on that fifth floor elevator stop, is, what if Will, Will with the gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, MISSES. And so it goes, the whole long way down, as the elevator stops on each floor, and at each stop someone connected to his brother gets on to give Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows. A story that might never know an END…if Will gets off that elevator. Told in short, fierce staccato narrative verse, Long Way Down is a fast and furious, dazzlingly brilliant look at teenage gun violence, as could only be told by Jason Reynolds. |
Language: English
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1481438263
ISBN-13: 9781481438261
Genre: Young Adult Readers
Shipping Weight: 145 grams
Condition: New
More detail about this book and author can check this link also Discover the Best English Books Online in our store through this link
Long Way Down
Overview of Long Way Down
Long Way Down is a powerful and haunting novel in verse by Jason Reynolds. It tells the story of Will, a 15-year-old boy struggling with the brutal reality of gun violence. After his older brother Shawn is murdered, Will grabs his brother’s gun and steps into an elevator—determined to follow the unspoken rules of revenge.
The entire story takes place over just 60 seconds, the time it takes for the elevator to descend seven floors. During this short yet intense journey, Will is confronted by ghosts from his past. Each visitor has a connection to the cycle of violence that haunts his community. Their stories force him to question everything he believes about justice, loyalty, and manhood.
Themes and Symbolism in Long Way Down
In Long Way Down, Reynolds masterfully explores themes of grief, revenge, and choice. The elevator becomes a powerful symbol—a confined space where Will can no longer avoid the emotional weight of his decisions. With each stop, the past becomes harder to ignore.
The ghosts are not just memories; they represent consequences. Through them, the novel challenges toxic masculinity and the inherited codes of silence and retaliation. Although Will feels he must avenge his brother, he begins to realize that revenge doesn’t always lead to peace.
The verse format adds emotional impact. The short lines and rapid pacing reflect Will’s inner turmoil. At the same time, the poetic structure draws attention to moments of reflection and pause. This creates a rhythm that is both urgent and deeply moving.
Why Long Way Down Is a Must-Read
Long Way Down is not just a book—it’s an experience. With spare language and vivid imagery, it tackles a harsh reality with empathy and honesty. It encourages readers to think critically about the cost of violence and the power of choice.
This book resonates with teens and adults alike. It’s gripping, thought-provoking, and emotionally unforgettable. By the end, Will—and the reader—are left with a single question: Will he pull the trigger, or break the cycle?
Language: English
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1481438263
ISBN-13: 9781481438261
Genre: Young Adult Readers
Shipping Weight: 145 grams
Condition: New
More detail about this book and author can check this link also Discover the Best English Books Online in our store through this link
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