Citation
Reynolds, Jason. Long Way Down. Atheneum, 2017.
Audience
Ages 13+
Summary
This verse novel takes place during one elevator ride where 15 year Will is deciding whether or not to avenge the death of his older brother. As the elevator descends each floor, Will comes face to face with a ghost from his past that forces him to think about what he is about to do and the aftermath that comes with revenge killing, or really death of any kind. It is difficult to say more without ruining the ending of the book, but it is a tense elevator ride all the way down.
Value
This book holds an incredible amount of value for several reasons. One, the verse novel format makes it accessible and engaging for those who might be reluctant readers or have lot their confidence or joy in reading. Secondly, the book deals with a very real-world topic that affects so many young people across the nation. For many, there are neighborhood rules of conduct that hang heavy over their heads and can affect their decision-making process. This book highlights that struggle and shows the ramifications of decisions but in a non-judgemental or lecture-y way.
Potential Problems
Despite all of its awards and literary merit, Long Way Down was on the ALA's Top Banned Book List in 2018. Censors cited the, "author's public statements... and claims that the book contains “selective storytelling incidents” and does not encompass racism against all people" as reasons for the ban. Some individuals may also be concerned about the topics of gun violence, revenge killing, and some strong language in the book.
Reviews
"After 15-year-old Will sees his older brother, Shawn, gunned down on the streets, he sets out to do the expected: the rules dictate no crying, no snitching, and revenge. Though the African-American teen has never held one, Will leaves his apartment with his brother's gun tucked in his waistband. As he travels down on the elevator, the door opens on certain floors, and Will is confronted with a different figure from his past, each a victim of gun violence, each important in his life. They also force Will to face the questions he has about his plan. As each "ghost" speaks, Will realizes how much of his own story has been unknown to him and how intricately woven they are. Told in free-verse poems, this is a raw, powerful, and emotional depiction of urban violence. The structure of the novel heightens the tension, as each stop of the elevator brings a new challenge until the narrative arrives at its taut, ambiguous ending. There is considerable symbolism, including the 15 bullets in the gun and the way the elevator rules parallel street rules. Reynolds masterfully weaves in textured glimpses of the supporting characters. Throughout, readers get a vivid picture of Will and the people in his life, all trying to cope with the circumstances of their environment while expressing the love, uncertainty, and hope that all humans share. This astonishing book will generate much needed discussion. (Verse fiction. 12-adult)" -- Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW ― 7/15/17
"Fifteen-year-old Will’s big brother has been shot and killed. According to the rules that Will has been taught, it is now his job to kill the person responsible. He easily finds his brother’s gun and gets on the elevator to head down from his eighth-floor apartment. But it’s a long way down to the ground floor. At each floor, a different person gets on to tell a story. Each of these people is already dead. As they relate their tales, readers learn about the cycle of violence in which Will is caught up. The protagonist faces a difficult choice, one that is a reality for many young people. Teens are left with an unresolved ending that goes beyond the simple question of whether Will will seek revenge. Told in verse, this title is fabulistic in its simplicity and begs to be discussed. Its hook makes for an excellent book talk. It will pair well with Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give and Reynolds’s previous works. The unique narrative structure also makes it an excellent read-alike for Walter Dean Myers’s Monster. VERDICT This powerful work is an important addition to any collection." -- School Library Journal *STARRED* ― July 2017
"Spanning a mere one minute and seven seconds, Reynolds’ new free-verse novel is an intense snapshot of the chain reaction caused by pulling a trigger. First, 15-year-old Will Holloman sets the scene by relating his brother’s, Shawn’s, murder two days prior—gunned down while buying soap for their mother. Next, he lays out The Rules: don’t cry, don’t snitch, always get revenge. Now that the reader is up to speed, Will tucks Shawn’s gun into his waistband and steps into an elevator, steeled to execute rule number three and shoot his brother’s killer. Yet, the simple seven-floor descent becomes a revelatory trip. At each floor, the doors open to admit someone killed by the same cycle of violence that Will’s about to enter. He’s properly freaked out, but as the seconds tick by and floors count down, each new occupant drops some knowledge and pushes Will to examine his plans for that gun. Reynolds’ concise verses echo like shots against the white space of the page, their impact resounding. He peels back the individual stories that led to this moment in the elevator and exposes a culture inured to violence because poverty, gang life, or injustice has left them with no other option. In this all too real portrait of survival, Reynolds goes toe-to-toe with where, or even if, love and choice are allowed to exist. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: A noisy buzz always surrounds this critically acclaimed author’s work, and the planned tour and promo campaign will boost this book’s to a siren call." -- Booklist Online, STARRED REVIEW ― July 1st, 2017
Awards
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
Alternate Titles
The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Moore
This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
Shooter by Walter Dean Myers
How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon