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A cannon. A strap. A piece. A biscuit. A burner. A heater. A chopper. A gat. A hammer A tool for RULEOr, you can call it a gun. That’s what fifteen-year-old Will has shoved in the back waistband of his jeans. See, his brother Shawn was just murdered. And Will knows the rules. No crying. No snitching. Revenge. That’s where Will’s now heading, with that gun shoved in the bacA cannon. A strap. A piece. A biscuit. A burner. A heater. A chopper. A gat. A hammer A tool for RULEOr, you can call it a gun. That’s what fifteen-year-old Will has shoved in the back waistband of his jeans. See, his brother Shawn was just murdered. And Will knows the rules. No crying. No snitching. Revenge. That’s where Will’s now heading, with that gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, the gun that was his brother’s gun. He gets on the elevator, seventh floor, stoked. He knows who he’s after. Or does he? As the elevator stops on the sixth floor, on comes Buck. Buck, Will finds out, is who gave Shawn the gun before Will took the gun. Buck tells Will to check that the gun is even loaded. And that’s when Will sees that one bullet is missing. And the only one who could have fired Shawn’s gun was Shawn. Huh. Will didn’t know that Shawn had ever actually USED his gun. Bigger huh. BUCK IS DEAD. But Buck’s in the elevator? Just as Will’s trying to think this through, the door to the next floor opens. A teenage girl gets on, waves away the smoke from Dead Buck’s cigarette. Will doesn’t know her, but she knew him. Knew. When they were eight. And stray bullets had cut through the playground, and Will had tried to cover her, but she was hit anyway, and so what she wants to know, on that fifth floor elevator stop, is, what if Will, Will with the gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, MISSES.And so it goes, the whole long way down, as the elevator stops on each floor, and at each stop someone connected to his brother gets on to give Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows. A story that might never know an END…if WILL gets off that elevator.

"Long Way Down" by Jason Reynolds: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Redemption

In the heart-wrenching novel "Long Way Down," Jason Reynolds paints a vivid portrait of a young boy named Will, grappling with the aftermath of his brother's murder. The story unfolds over the course of a single elevator ride, during which Will has sixty seconds to decide whether he will avenge his brother's death or choose a different path.

Reynolds skillfully weaves together Will's memories, thoughts, and emotions, creating a raw and deeply moving narrative. Each floor of the elevator represents a significant moment in Will's life, from his childhood with his brother to the fateful day of the shooting. With every floor, Will is confronted with his grief, anger, and desire for revenge.

As Will descends, he encounters a series of characters who challenge his perspective and offer him alternative ways of thinking. There's Shawn, his brother's friend who was present during the shooting; Buck, a former gang member who urges Will to break the cycle of violence; and Ms. Alvarez, a teacher who believes in Will's potential for redemption.

Throughout the novel, Reynolds delves into the complexities of grief, loss, and the human capacity for forgiveness. He explores the idea that revenge is a double-edged sword that ultimately hurts the avenger more than the intended target. With each passing floor, Will inches closer to a decision that will shape the rest of his life.

"Long Way Down" is a powerful and thought-provoking story that tackles difficult themes with honesty and sensitivity. Reynolds' unique writing style, characterized by short, punchy sentences and poetic language, keeps readers engaged until the very end. The novel's exploration of grief, forgiveness, and the consequences of one's actions makes it a must-read for anyone seeking a deeply moving and transformative story.