Long Way Down

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Reynolds, Jason. (2017). Long way down. Ill. by Danica Novgorodoff. New York: Atheneum. 

ISBN 9781534444959

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In a vicious cycle, Will is determined to follow the rules of his neighborhood and avenge

his brother’s death.  When he arrives to shoot his brother’s supposed murderer, he meets

the ghosts of his path. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This story is written from the first person point of view of a fifteen year old black teenager ,

Will, who witnessed his brother being shot.  The author uses a lot of figurative language to

portray a dark and hopeless situation. The reader can see how painful this is for the victim’s

brother through the author’s use of personification. “...The ground definitely felt like it opened

up and ate me.” Will’s world has just been crushed. His disbelief is shown through his repetition

of saying, “Shawn is dead.” It’s like if he says it enough, it will seem believable.  The revolving

conflict in this novel is referred to as a slang term “beef.” “Beef gets passed down like name-brand

t-shirts…never ironed out.”  People are quick to jump to conclusions and take matters into their

own hands. The author uses terms like “you probably ain’ gon’ believe it either” to give the setting

a more authentic feel.  This is a neighborhood where they live by 3 rules, and one of those is that

you must get revenge.  

The illustrations in this graphic novel are beautiful watercolors. The illustrator uses black and

white colors to portray Shawn’s death.  The main color on the page is red to symbolize the life

that was taken away.  One page depicts how Will’s life is turned upside down after his brother’s

death.  The illustrations used are disjointed  and show a person’s body all over the place.  After

Shawn dies, the sky on one page is colored in dark hues of purple and black to show the loss that

the community has suffered once again.  The conflicts that surface are illustrated through maps of

certain territories owned by gangs or through vivid scenes on the elevator.  Many of these

deceased characters had options but chose the easy way out or lived by the rules.  For example,

Uncle Mark’s story is displayed through small black and white photos of his options to get a

new camera and his plan.  Though he had options, he let the neighborhood suck him in and

becamewhat many others before him became, a drug hustler.  “Bam” is written in red to show his fate. 

The  theme of revenge is particularly shown when Will goes to avenge his brother’s death and

gets on an elevator.  At each floor, he encounters a different ghost from his past.  They were all

victims of a shooting, many due to revenge being sought.  He learns that his dad killed the wrong

person, and this gets him thinking.  He becomes very confused.  One of the ghosts is his brother

Shawn who breaks the rule and begins crying.  He cannot say anything to his brother, but he cries. 

It is a cathartic moment in which he is trying to relay to his brother that breaking the rules is ok; he

does not have to get revent for his brother.  In the end, the reader is left with a cliff hanger and has to

decide for themselves which choice Will makes as his brother asks him “You coming?” We are left to

figure out if he is going to join their fate and enter into this metaphorical vertical coffin.

This is a heartbreaking, powerful novel that shows the reality of people growing up in

circumstances such as these.  

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist, starred review: "Far more than just an illustration of the events of the novel, Novgorodoff’s iteration powerfully cultivates the tone and mood of its source material, demonstrating just how effective and artful comics can be." 

The Horn Book,starred review : "Reynolds has skillfully edited and rearranged his original verse novel to create room for Novgorodoff’s impressionistic ink and watercolor illustrations to flourish, resulting in an adaptation that feels authentic to its new comics format." 

Kirkus Reviews, starred review: "A moving rendition that stands on its own." 

School Library Journal, starred review: "Reynolds’s words paint pictures of their own in this tragic yet poignant illustrated tale that offers no answers to the seemingly ­impossible choices some communities face."

5. CONNECTIONS

Other graphic novels with similar themes

Myers, Walter Dean        Monster              ISBN 9780062274991

Other books by Jason Reynolds:

Long Way Down              ISBN        9781534444966

All American Boys           ISBN         978-1481463348

Students can create their own endings with the graphic illustrations to match.