Yesterday, I read Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. This book is a novel in verse about a fifteen-year-old boy, Will Holloman, who wants to get revenge after his older brother, Shawn, is murdered. Knowing the Rules of no crying, no snitching, and seeking revenge, Will finds the gun in his brother's middle drawer one evening and tucks it into the waistband of the back of his jeans the next morning. He leaves his apartment before his mom wakes up and enters the elevator. Over the next minute, Will is visited by six ghosts as the elevator stops at each floor between the eighth and the bottom. From these ghosts, he learns more about the story behind what happened to his brother. Will thinks he knows who killed his brother, but he's not completely sure, so he has to decide if he is going to continue the cycle of violence from his family and friends following the Rules.
I was reading this book for the second time, and it was just as compelling as the first time I read it three years ago. It reminds me a little of A Christmas Carol, but more intense. Each time Will stopped at a floor, I was interested in who would visit him and what the ghost would reveal to him. I also wondered if Will would be able to go through with shooting his brother's murderer or not, especially after growing to doubt who exactly murdered Shawn and understanding what led up to the tragedy. I didn't want him to make the wrong the choice because I felt awful that he was dealing with so much responsibility for someone so young. Overall, this book was very enlightening about gun violence. It's perfect for anyone who enjoys suspense and realistic fiction or wants a quick read.
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