A review by leguinstan
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

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

4.0

 
Shawn was zipped into a bag
and rolled away, his blood added
to the pavement galaxy of
 
bubblegum stars. The tape 
framed it like it was art. And the next
day, kids would play mummy with it

This is only the second novel by Jason Reynolds that I have read and I am starting to think that he just might be one of the greatest middle grade/YA authors currently writing in the English language. Now granted, I have very little experience with middle grade and YA literature so needless to say my opinion on the matter amounts to very little… but NEVERTHELESS!!! his masterful wordsmithing in Long Way Down moves me, nay, compels me to make such a statement. 

Although the novel’s language is quite sparse, Reynolds delivers several emotional kicks through the teeth. The main character’s feelings of grief, fear, sorrow and uncertainty are made palpable through Reynold’s thoughtful use of imagery, metaphor, and word placement. The reading experience was as emotionally intense as it was brief–appropriate considering the immense emotional turmoil felt by the main character for the duration of one elevator ride.

This all makes for a perfectly good (pre-)teen novel but the way Jason Reynolds treats his readers is what makes Long Way Down a great (pre-)teen novel. He manages to tackle the heavy theme of gang violence without patronizing his readers. As I was reading, I got the impression that he sees his readers as intelligent individuals that are perfectly capable of handling nuance and subtlety. In short: Long Way Down deserves all the awards heaped upon it. 
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