Long Way Down
Long Way Down
By Jason Reynolds
Click here to listen to a community read of the book.
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is a powerful novel written in free-verse that tackles the issue of gun violence in America. The story follows fifteen-year-old Will as he reacts to the shooting death of his brother Shawn just two days earlier. The story takes place in a mere one minute and seven seconds as Will travels in an elevator to the ground floor of his building; he is on a mission to avenge his brother’s death by killing the person he believes is responsible. As Will is in the elevator, he is visited by a series of ghosts, including his brother, who challenge his decision and force him to confront the cycle of violence that has plagued his community.
I loved that this novel was written in free-verse. I have never read a novel that was structured this way and the writing had a rhythm that moves the story along. Additionally, the rhythm of the novel mimics the urgency and tension that Will is feeling. The use of verse adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, allowing Reynolds to convey a range of emotions with just a few carefully chosen words. Each page of the novel features unique typography that emphasizes the meaning behind the words. Through writing in free-verse, Reynolds is able to explore the difficult and uncomfortable topics of gang violence, police brutality, and the impact of trauma in a nuanced way. I found it extremely powerful that the ghosts that Will encounters represent the voices of those lost to violence, which humanizes the affects of gun violence. Ultimately, the novel written in free-verse allows readers to explore difficult social justice issues in a creative way that inspires empathy and understanding.
Long Way Down has also been turned into a graphic novel illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff. The illustrations in the graphic novel are extremely impactful, with vibrant colors and expressive characters that help to bring the story to life. Novgorodoff's use of different visual styles for each ghost adds depth and dimension to the story. Additionally, the use of color and shadow conveys the tense and emotional tone of the story.
Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds. Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books (2017).
For more information about Jason Reynolds click here.
Word Count: 355
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is a powerful novel written in free-verse that tackles the issue of gun violence in America. The story follows fifteen-year-old Will as he reacts to the shooting death of his brother Shawn just two days earlier. The story takes place in a mere one minute and seven seconds as Will travels in an elevator to the ground floor of his building; he is on a mission to avenge his brother’s death by killing the person he believes is responsible. As Will is in the elevator, he is visited by a series of ghosts, including his brother, who challenge his decision and force him to confront the cycle of violence that has plagued his community.
I loved that this novel was written in free-verse. I have never read a novel that was structured this way and the writing had a rhythm that moves the story along. Additionally, the rhythm of the novel mimics the urgency and tension that Will is feeling. The use of verse adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, allowing Reynolds to convey a range of emotions with just a few carefully chosen words. Each page of the novel features unique typography that emphasizes the meaning behind the words. Through writing in free-verse, Reynolds is able to explore the difficult and uncomfortable topics of gang violence, police brutality, and the impact of trauma in a nuanced way. I found it extremely powerful that the ghosts that Will encounters represent the voices of those lost to violence, which humanizes the affects of gun violence. Ultimately, the novel written in free-verse allows readers to explore difficult social justice issues in a creative way that inspires empathy and understanding.
Long Way Down has also been turned into a graphic novel illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff. The illustrations in the graphic novel are extremely impactful, with vibrant colors and expressive characters that help to bring the story to life. Novgorodoff's use of different visual styles for each ghost adds depth and dimension to the story. Additionally, the use of color and shadow conveys the tense and emotional tone of the story.
Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds. Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books (2017).
For more information about Jason Reynolds click here.
Comments
Post a Comment