Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
$12.99
Product Details
Web ID: 85118269 months ago
from Greenville, SC
Emotional, gripping, and thought provoking.
I used this book for a novel study for my 8th grader. She chose it and it is a brilliant, though emotionally difficult book. This book is written in prose and presented in a way that is more digestible for those who may not be the best readers, yet it is complex and thought provoking enough for even the most prolific readers. I think this should be required reading for all middle schoolers, but it should be accompanied by some solid conversation about the subject matter.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
3 years ago
from pithysummary
Sad and honest
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is about what tightens within us when gunshots enter lives and take lives. Someone shoots Will’s older brother, Shawn, and Will is young, frightened, confused, and unknowingly steps in his family’s muddy footprints as he seeks revenge. With a gun, what else? On the elevator ride down his apartment building, he is confronted by ghosts that spread their palms wide and ask him to look at the cost of violence, the cost of revenge, and the cost of anger.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
3 years ago
from Massachusetts
Great Book.
I’ve never been one for reading but one day at school my teacher made us get books and this one caught my eye. I went into that year thinking i wasn’t going to like reading but i guess i just never found what i enjoyed. Wonderful book i 100% recommend!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
3 years ago
from New Hope, MN
AMAZING BOOK!
This book keeps the reader intrigued. Once I opened the book I could not put the book down. The format of the book is not your typical left to right; it is a zig zag. The format being zig zagged made me purchase the book and I was not disappointed.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
3 years ago
from Chicago, IL
A look at the sad state of gun violence in verse
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds This is a reality check on gun violence in teens. Narrated in poetry, this is the story of 15 y/o Will whose brother Shawn was murdered. There are rules to deal with this - and they are elaborated. It presents the sad state of today's teenage gun violence, staged in poetry.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
3 years ago
from Ankeny, IA
Great Read
As a class book discussion, I chose to read Long Way Down, and I am so glad I did. The book was soul-touching; Will is longing for revenge for his brother's (Shawn) murder. With each chapter, the rules are repeated; No crying, no snitching, and take revenge. Will has successfully passed the first two rules but develops an internal conflict. The reader soon understands what Will's conflict is and whether or not taking revenge is morally right. But he can't disrespect his brother right? A fascinating read to find out what Will decides to do, it kept me intrigued the whole time. I would say the end is open-ended and I am still left with questions, so if you like resolution, this book is not for you.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
4 years ago
Best Read of the Summer
There are three rules: No crying, no snitching, and revenge. Do you like books with a revenge plot? Then Long Way Down is the book for you. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is a thrilling and powerful novel written from the perspective of a fifteen year old boy, Will, whose brother just got killed and he needs to get revenge. It was a great summer reading book and sparked great discussions. Although short, the author showed really great themes. The two main themes of the book were revenge and family. After Will saw his brother, Shawn, get shot, he has to follow the rules of his community and get revenge. The book shows Will struggling with the idea to kill his brother’s murderer and how it can effect someone. Family is portrayed with how people get revenge for their family no matter what. It doesn’t matter if you are blood related or not, you have to get vengeance for your loved one. Jason Reynolds writes with an easy flow and captivates emotion in his writing. He also uses an abundance of literacy elements. An example is, “In the bathroom, in the mirror my face sagged, like sadness was trying to pull the skin off. Zombie.” This really shows how descriptive and intentional Reynolds is with his words. It is easy to imagine the scene playing out in front of you. The book is organized in poetry form and in chronological order of the events. It is free verse but beautifully written and is a creative writing style. It has a quick pace and makes you very interested in what is happening. I couldn’t put the book down because it really pulls you in. Reynold’s writing style is compelling and makes you eager to read more. I enjoyed the novel because of the portrayal of Will and the honest representation of grief. The internal conflict developed by the author between Will’s sense of duty and the outcome of his actions was moving. This book was amazing and I highly recommend it. It was a quick read, but worth every minute.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
4 years ago
from St. Louis, MO
Beautiful Story Written in Prose
This is the first book I've read by Jason Reynolds, and I was definitely not disappointed! I appreciated the fact that the novel was written in verse. I really think that added impact and meaning to what Reynolds was trying to convey. I also liked the way Reynolds made "The Rules," a theme throughout the book. The way Will questioned himself was moving and felt so real.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com