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A review by bookmarkedbyheather
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
5.0
VERY QUICK READ BUT VERY WORTH IT
I decided to read this book because it had outstanding reviews and I wanted to try a different genre that wasn't my usual horror or romance novel. I started into this book not excited at all but once I finished it, it took my breathe away.
DESCRIPTION (NO SPOILERS)
This book is about gangs and how business is held on the streets when someone they loved gets murdered. Usually, a family member or friend will "take care" of the person who did it and ends up just being a mary-go-round of killings. So this young kid named Will is on his way to kill the person he believes murdered his brother Shawn. On the way down in the elevator on every floor he is visited by family and friends that have all died from either revenge or even getting caught in the crossfire. To me it takes on a ghosts of christmas past vibe so that Will ends up making the right decision. The end just abruptly ends but it leaves you very raw.
What I hated?
What made this book SO difficult to read was the type of style it was written but also the language and the way the main character talked. I understand why the author did it this way because it made the situation more real and put you inside the characters head. The tone to me was "gangster" or someone who didn't grow up with much education.
What I loved?
To me the best part is halfway through the book to the part when he gets visited in the elevator. You meet all these people that have passed away in Will's short life and their story on how they died. It's inspiring and sad and heartwarming all at the same time. AND LET ME TELL YOU. The end of this book was a mind shattering. I won't spoil it but Will has a big decision to make at the end of this stop to the ground level.
I decided to read this book because it had outstanding reviews and I wanted to try a different genre that wasn't my usual horror or romance novel. I started into this book not excited at all but once I finished it, it took my breathe away.
DESCRIPTION (NO SPOILERS)
This book is about gangs and how business is held on the streets when someone they loved gets murdered. Usually, a family member or friend will "take care" of the person who did it and ends up just being a mary-go-round of killings. So this young kid named Will is on his way to kill the person he believes murdered his brother Shawn. On the way down in the elevator on every floor he is visited by family and friends that have all died from either revenge or even getting caught in the crossfire. To me it takes on a ghosts of christmas past vibe so that Will ends up making the right decision. The end just abruptly ends but it leaves you very raw.
What I hated?
What made this book SO difficult to read was the type of style it was written but also the language and the way the main character talked. I understand why the author did it this way because it made the situation more real and put you inside the characters head. The tone to me was "gangster" or someone who didn't grow up with much education.
What I loved?
To me the best part is halfway through the book to the part when he gets visited in the elevator. You meet all these people that have passed away in Will's short life and their story on how they died. It's inspiring and sad and heartwarming all at the same time. AND LET ME TELL YOU. The end of this book was a mind shattering. I won't spoil it but Will has a big decision to make at the end of this stop to the ground level.