Reviews

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

chloerachel's review against another edition

emotional reflective

3.0

This novel has a lot of hype around it, and I can see why. I can see why the reflection of; how the actions of those who came before us effect us, violence in cities, and the choices we are faced with in the hours of loss are important. Did I love it? No. I could analyze it and pull out all of the important symbolism and hidden meaning, and spend time thinking about the disadvantages many people face in America and appreciate everything this novel stands for, but reading this novel from a non-academic space, just left me unsatisfied. I did not connect to the characters, it is poetry so that is not the number one priority of the author which I understand, but when I finished the novel I was simply finished reading the novel. 

allyareads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

melissabeth's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

3.5

songofainsley's review

challenging emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

jennandy4's review

fast-paced

4.0

peachyclaudia's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-paced

4.75

qweenteen's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

thomasr417's review

dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kambmoore's review against another edition

5.0

I am not typically a huge fan of verse-novels. I've never been huge into poetry, but that's also because I've never sought it out or read much of it to be quite honest.

This book changed that for me.

I had to read this (also) for class, and wow. I read the first 50 pages last night and then couldn't stop reading today, I had to finish it. It was truly amazing, and I am still reeling from the whole thing. The entire book is clouded by an overwhelming sense of grief, and having just lost my aunt who was very close to me, I found myself close to tears for a majority of this. Reynolds did such an amazing job, and the physical layout of this book just added to it.

5/5 stars

j3h's review

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0