Monday, October 7, 2024

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

 Award-winner-Newbery Honor, Michael L. Printz Honor, Coretta Scott King Award

Will's brother Shawn is dead. Shot. Will knows who the shooter is. He is following the three rules: 1. Don't cry. 2. No Snitching. 3. Get Revenge. 

Entering the elevator, Will has a loaded gun tucked in his waistband. Revenge. Over sixty seconds dead friends and family, who have been shot, enter the elevator and talk to him about the choice looming before him. Is revenge really worth it?

Told in free verse   I read this in one sitting and recommend this method. It is fast-pace. If you stop in the middle, it is almost like you lose momentum. 

*Highly recommend for its literary & artistic value but see warnings. This book will lead to great discussions about revenge, misconceptions, and breaking cycles.

-Warnings: swearing (including f-word), gun violence, graphic description of Shawn's death & how he looked right after the shooting, smoking, gangs, selling drugs, stealing

-Borrowed from the library.




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