English / USA
Long way down
Reynolds, Jason
(text)
New York: Atheneum, [2017]. – 306 p.
(Series: A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book)
ISBN 978-1-4814-3825-4
Murder | Verse novel | Revenge | Conscience | Gang violence | Code of conduct
Reading age: 14+
White Ravens issue: 2018
Jason Reynolds is one of the most renowned authors for children and teenagers in the US. Within the past five years, he has published more than ten award-winning books. “Long Way Down” is a breath-taking verse novel about a young boy facing a terrifying dilemma: When his older brother Shawn is shot in the street due to gang violence, fifteen-year-old Will knows what is expected of him. The rules are: No crying. No snitching. And always seek revenge. Gun tucked into his belt and scared to death, Will steps on the elevator. In the sixty-second ride to the ground floor, he is joined by the ghosts of friends and family members who were all killed following these rules and are now voicing their opinion – still, the decision is his to make. In Reynolds’s intense verses not a single word is out of place. The rhythm, blank spaces, every turn of the page, even the page background and overall book design – everything is meticulously crafted to create an oppressive and suspenseful atmosphere that draws readers in without offering an easy solution.