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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I feel like the ending didn’t really have a resolution. I like to think Will broke the rules, but I have no clue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder
challenging
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I prefer the novel but the art was beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Gun violence
This is my second time reading Jason Reynolds' work and as with the first time, I was blown away by his writing. In Long Way Down, I thought I was going to be reading a graphic novel that would entertain me, but it do so much more than that. It made me tear up and also think about the Black children who live and die by gun violence.
The story begins with an introduction to the narrator and main character, William Holloman, Will for short. He has just lost his older brother Shawn to gun violence and wants revenge. Because when it comes to shootings, there are rules: don't cry, don't snitch and if you know who did the shooting, take revenge. Will makes a plan and sets it in motion. Little does he know that he is about to experience a life-changing elevator ride.
I cannot tell you how moved I was reading this graphic novel. Jason Reynolds not only created an incredible piece of work, he also wrote a story that is too familiar to way too many of us. The elevator ride Will took weaved a tale of how gun violence is a never-ending cycle, taking fathers, brothers, uncles, friends and innocent children just having fun on the playground. How Black people and children are killed by revenge, mistaken identity, wrong-place-wrong-time and stray bullets finding everyone but the intended target. I thought about all of the young Black children who are conditioned to run or drop down to the ground when they hear gunshots, the fear they feel when cops are around, and not knowing if they'll make it to their next birthday. I could not go to sleep after reading this book because my mind was going crazy thinking about these babies.
If I could say anything to Jason Reynolds, it would be Thank You. I would thank him for writing such a beautiful and sad and heartbreaking story. For thinking about those children and putting their stories out there.
I cannot end this review without mentioning Danica Novgorodoff's beautiful illustrations. She made each part of the story come alive, even when you want to look away from what is happening. The facial expressions are especially gorgeous, giving each part of the story even more depth and feeling. The illustrations are stunning.
I implore my readers to pick up Long Way Down. And don't rush through it. Really sit with it and read it so you can experience every part of Will's story.
The story begins with an introduction to the narrator and main character, William Holloman, Will for short. He has just lost his older brother Shawn to gun violence and wants revenge. Because when it comes to shootings, there are rules: don't cry, don't snitch and if you know who did the shooting, take revenge. Will makes a plan and sets it in motion. Little does he know that he is about to experience a life-changing elevator ride.
I cannot tell you how moved I was reading this graphic novel. Jason Reynolds not only created an incredible piece of work, he also wrote a story that is too familiar to way too many of us. The elevator ride Will took weaved a tale of how gun violence is a never-ending cycle, taking fathers, brothers, uncles, friends and innocent children just having fun on the playground. How Black people and children are killed by revenge, mistaken identity, wrong-place-wrong-time and stray bullets finding everyone but the intended target. I thought about all of the young Black children who are conditioned to run or drop down to the ground when they hear gunshots, the fear they feel when cops are around, and not knowing if they'll make it to their next birthday. I could not go to sleep after reading this book because my mind was going crazy thinking about these babies.
If I could say anything to Jason Reynolds, it would be Thank You. I would thank him for writing such a beautiful and sad and heartbreaking story. For thinking about those children and putting their stories out there.
I cannot end this review without mentioning Danica Novgorodoff's beautiful illustrations. She made each part of the story come alive, even when you want to look away from what is happening. The facial expressions are especially gorgeous, giving each part of the story even more depth and feeling. The illustrations are stunning.
I implore my readers to pick up Long Way Down. And don't rush through it. Really sit with it and read it so you can experience every part of Will's story.
If there’s any graphic novel to pick up in your lifetime, you’ve found it. That’s definitely a bold claim, considering I haven’t read thaaaat many graphic novels, but I stick by that statement. I read the novel in 2021 and absolutely fell in love with it. The audiobook is so emotional and intense, and definitely a great way to go if you just want to sink entirely into the story.
Jason Reynolds is 100% one of my top authors of all time, so I might be a bit biased when I say this graphic novel is stunning, but it really is. Will is an amazing, relatable, heart-wrenching main character and he was such a good vessel to understand cyclical violence and grief. This, along with any Jason Reynolds book, should be required reading.
The art style is also really stunning as well and showed the depth of the original novel so well. It’s a very emotional, deep experience so prepare yourself for a heart-breaking and memorable read. I would recommend reading the novel (especially by audio) first, just because I think that the graphic novel took me out of the story a little bit at time.
Jason Reynolds is 100% one of my top authors of all time, so I might be a bit biased when I say this graphic novel is stunning, but it really is. Will is an amazing, relatable, heart-wrenching main character and he was such a good vessel to understand cyclical violence and grief. This, along with any Jason Reynolds book, should be required reading.
The art style is also really stunning as well and showed the depth of the original novel so well. It’s a very emotional, deep experience so prepare yourself for a heart-breaking and memorable read. I would recommend reading the novel (especially by audio) first, just because I think that the graphic novel took me out of the story a little bit at time.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
This was a quick read and very enjoyable. Definitely a heavy topic but beautiful art work.
5 Stars.
5 Stars.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated