Long Way Down

Long Way Down

book

2019, Teen & Young Adult, Literature & Fiction

WISE
62%

WISE Score

4.6

Amazon

60 seconds in an elevator where ghosts challenge a teen's plan to avenge his brother's murder—devastating, brilliant, and not for the faint of heart.

Amazon4.6
Common Sense Media

Where to Read

Amazon
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Libby
Libby

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the kind of book that wins every award and absolutely deserves them—it's a masterpiece of verse storytelling that takes a brutal topic and makes you feel it in your bones. Jason Reynolds doesn't flinch from the reality of gun violence in urban communities, and he doesn't offer easy answers.

But let's be clear: this is not a light read. It's about a 15-year-old with a gun in his waistband heading down an elevator to commit murder. The fact that it's questioning that choice rather than celebrating it matters enormously, but it's still heavy, dark, and emotionally intense.

For the right teen—especially reluctant readers who need something short, powerful, and real—this can be transformative. It's the kind of book that sparks the exact conversations we need to be having about violence, revenge, and breaking cycles. But it absolutely requires maturity and ideally adult guidance.

If your teen is ready for complex moral questions and can handle the weight of the subject matter, this is essential reading. If they're not there yet, wait a year or two.

Age Fit

Best for ages 13 and up who can handle intense themes about gun violence and death. The verse format makes it accessible for reluctant readers, but the emotional and moral complexity requires teen maturity. Not appropriate for younger middle schoolers unless in a guided classroom setting with strong support.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
45

This is a book about a 15-year-old planning to commit murder in revenge for his brother's death. While it ultimately questions the cycle of violence rather than glorifying it, the core premise involves a teen with a loaded gun heading to kill someone. The emotional journey is heavy—grief, rage, confusion—and while there's profound questioning of the 'rules' of street violence, the tone is dark and the subject matter is far from emotionally light. It doesn't model kindness or cooperation in a traditional sense, though it does model deep reflection.

Imaginative
82

Reynolds uses a strikingly original format—60 seconds in an elevator, told in sparse verse, with ghosts appearing at each floor to challenge Will's understanding. The free verse poetry is packed with sensory language and metaphor. It's a creative tour de force that reimagines how a story about gun violence can be told. The structure itself invites readers to think differently about narrative, time, and consequence. It won't have kids building or creating in a hands-on way, but it absolutely sparks imagination and literary appreciation.

Safe
35

This book deals with murder, gun violence, grief, and revenge as its central themes. A 15-year-old protagonist carries a gun with intent to kill. There are references to multiple deaths, including children killed by stray bullets. While there's no graphic gore or sexual content, the subject matter is intense and emotionally heavy. Multiple parent reviews note it's 'mature' and 'graphic' in themes. Some educators question whether it's appropriate even for 8th grade classrooms due to the emphasis on guns and violence. This isn't a book a young child should stumble into unexpectedly.

Enriching
88

This is a Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Honor, and Printz Honor book that tackles the cycle of gun violence with devastating insight. It builds empathy for communities trapped in violence, challenges readers to think critically about revenge and justice, and opens crucial conversations about choices and consequences. Parent reviews consistently praise it as 'powerfully moving' and 'a great way to open discussion about making good choices and how hard it is to break cycles.' It's brief but packs enormous emotional and ethical weight. For teens ready for it, this is exactly the kind of literature that expands worldview and moral reasoning.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Multiple major awards (Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Honor, Printz Honor) for a reason—this is literary excellence
  • Told in accessible free verse that makes it perfect for reluctant readers, especially boys
  • Opens essential conversations about gun violence, cycles of revenge, and the weight of choices
  • Takes only an hour to read but will stick with you for years
  • Challenges readers to think deeply about justice, grief, and what it means to break destructive patterns
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What to Watch For

  • This is about a teen planning murder—the subject matter is heavy and mature throughout
  • Themes of gun violence, death, and grief are central and intense
  • Some parents and educators feel it's too graphic for middle school classrooms
  • Requires emotional maturity to process; best read with adult support for younger teens

Conversation Starters

  • "Will follows 'The Rules'—no crying, no snitching, revenge. Do you think these rules help or hurt his community?"
  • "Each ghost in the elevator gives Will a piece of a bigger story. How did learning more change what he thought he knew?"
  • "If you were Will's friend, what would you say to him in that elevator?"
  • "The book asks whether revenge actually solves anything. What do you think?"
  • "Why do you think the author chose to tell this story in 60 seconds? How does that change how you read it?"

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