Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

62 reviews

jstarshine16's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Child death, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Blood, Drug use, Confinement, and Cursing

Minor: Gore, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury

marissasa's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This book written in verse is just as powerful as the first time I read it in graphic novel version. Even without illustrations, the words and their structure paint vivid images of the story being told. The way that every page, every line, and every stanza is formatted so that it never misses a beat and hits you with forceful emotion and the stark realities of gun violence and its impact on young people, is a testament to how talented Jason Reynolds is and how important his works are. It's the kind of story that you won't stop reading until you're completely finished, and that will leave you in awe of how many complex emotions and feelings can be portrayed within the span of the 1 minute in an elevator that the story takes place in.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Grief, Violence, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Murder

froggirl666's review against another edition

fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Violence, and Grief

aprilyvonne's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Long Way Down” by Jason Reynolds was a poignant, poetic, and powerful story. Written in prose, the story focuses on the loss of an older brother recently murdered. Will, the MC, then reiterates what he’s learned from his deceased brother while riding the elevator to seek revenge.

Themes such as the loss of innocence, the pressure of toxic masculinity, “following the rules”, revenge, and more are interwoven with memories and ghostly visitors that join him on his one minute journey down.

Reynolds also narrates the audiobook, which allowed me to really appreciate the story through this poetic format. The anagrams and repetitive nature was a nice touch too. I enjoyed the symbolism, and would love to analyze it further to truly understand the ending. I just wished it were longer.

Listening to the extra clips and interviews at the end was enlightening. Reynolds reminds readers to have empathy, which reminds us how important stories like these are.

If you enjoyed books by Elizabeth Acevedo, I’ll think you’ll also enjoy this one. 📚

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Death, and Gun violence

jazmelody's review

challenging dark emotional informative tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Gun violence, Murder, and Grief

rebyreadsandwrites's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, and Grief

ashleycmms's review

challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, Grief, Death of parent, Blood, Gun violence, and Violence

anastasia_raf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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? No

3.5

A really touching and important book! I only wish it was longer... I loved the anagrams the whole uniqueness of it, truly clever and profound.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Murder, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Grief, Violence, Murder, Gun violence, Blood, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Drug use

sunfire38's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Murder, and Grief

junggi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

ez nagyon erős volt. nálam néha betalál a slam poetry, néha viszont nagyon nem, de ez a történet berántott. nagyon jól volt felépítve, átgondolva, az egész koncepció nagyon érdekes. teljesen át lehetett érezni az érzéseit Willnek

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Grief