Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

15 year old Will is heading down the elevator from his eighth floor apartment. With a gun stuck in his pants, Will is intending to revenge the murder of his brother Shawn. He has to play by the rules: 

     • No. 1: Crying - Don't. No matter what. 
     • No. 2: Snitching - Don't. Now matter what.
     • No. 3: Revenge - If someone you love gets killed, find the  

       person who killed them and kill them.

As he goes down, the elevator stops at each floor, with a person from Will's past stepping in. The first person on is Buck, a best friend of his brother who also had been murdered. His message to Will was  You don't got it in you. Each new person enters the elevator with a different message.

Told in free verse, the words are powerful and direct, communicating Will's anger, grief and pain in a way that a regular narrative could not. The entire novel spans 60 seconds, 60 seconds that will impact Will forever.

Jason Reynolds has created a powerful commentary on the endless cycle of murder and revenge, gun violence, and its effects on inner city youth and families. He has dedicated the book to All the young brothers and sisters in detention centers around the country, the ones I've seen, and the ones I haven't. You are loved.

An unforgettable read. Perfect for all, but especially reluctant readers. 

Mark's Book Picks Score: 4.5

Reading Level: 4.3 • Interest Level: 7-12 • AR Points: 2 • Lexile Level: 720 • Publisher: Simon & Schuster • Pages: 306 • Copyright: 2019 • ISBN: 978-1-481-43826-1 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

CYRM 2020/21 Nominee, Young Adult