Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Genre

Young Adult Printz Honor book 

Target Age Group

13+, 6-8 grade, 9-12 grade

Summary

Long Way Down is a novel written in verse that follows 15-year-old Will as he grapples with whether he should avenge his brother's death or let it go. The novel spans over a few minutes as Will is visited by deceased friends and relatives who strive to show Will the true impact of revenge and violence. 

Justification for Choosing

I chose this novel after seeing it in the young adult book club collection at the public library I work at. At work I was in charge of rating which books the library should use for upcoming teen book club meetings, and this novel was one that stood out to me as it is a Printz Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Honor Book, and Newberry Medal Honor Book. Though this book was not selected for our library's book club, I was interested in reading it as it is an impactful novel written in verse that features diverse characters.  

Evaluation

For this review, I will be evaluating the book's plot, characters, and language. 

Plot: 
Long Way Down has a gripping plot that is worthy of captivating readers of all ages, including middle-grade and young adult readers. The story is relevant to young adult readers as the protagonist is a 15-year-old boy who is struggling to cope with the death of his older brother. The storyline is relatable for teens who have experienced death and gun violence, but it also is an eye-opening read for those who have not experienced this type of loss. The story invites the reader to suspend disbelief as the protagonist, Will, is visited by his deceased relatives and friends in the span of a few minutes. Even though this may seem illogical, the story presents these characters with the purpose of influencing Will to reconsider his quest for revenge by showing how violent actions can negatively impact his life and the lives of others. The story develops fluidly with information gradually being revealed to the reader as it is revealed to Will. The story answers the reader's questions regarding what happened to Will's brother, but it does not reveal if Will proceeds with his revenge. The story has a satisfying open ending as it allows the reader to determine what Will's future will look like. 

Characters: 
The characters in Long Way Down are complex, believable, and relatable. There are a wide range of characters presented in this novel, but each character is thoroughly developed as the characters' backstory and purpose are clearly expressed. Furthermore, the protagonist Will is relatable, and readers can empathize with his internal struggle regarding whether to avenge his brother's death, a violent and immoral act, or to let his anger go. Though the novel is open-ended, Will experiences extreme character growth by the end of the novel which has the reader hoping that he will end the cycle and do the right thing in the end. 

Language: 
The characters in Long Way Down use appropriate language for the story's time period through their use of modern slang, such as AAVE. The language is appropriate for readers of the targeted age group, and it is engaging for teen and adult readers. The language used also matches each character as the adult characters use more mature language than Will's character due to him only being a teenager. The tone of the story is not condescending, and the language the author uses is respectful of the reader and the story's characters. 

Overall Rating: 4/5

References 

Reynolds, J. (2017). Long Way Down. Simon and Schuster.