Long Way Down

Written by Jason Reynolds

A book for readers in grades 7 and up reviewed by Jose   

    

Jason Reynolds’ Long Way Down is about Will, a fifteen-year-old teen who lives in a rough neighborhood dealing with gun violence. He became distraught after Shawn, his older brother who he looked up to, was shot and killed. Now, Will wants to avenge his brother by killing his murderer. However, he will soon realize that may not be the best option.

I liked Long Way Down because it is written in free-verse poetry. I have never read a book like this before. Each page has a different format that emphasizes the setting, dialogue, and emotions present in the story. Each of the book's pages is short, which makes you want to continue reading it.