Long Way Down

What if you had only sixty seconds to decide whether to avenge a loved one’s death? For fifteen-year-old Will, this isn't a hypothetical. His brother Shawn has just been shot and killed, and Will knows the rules: no crying, no snitching, and always get revenge. Now, with Shawn's gun tucked in his waistband, Will steps into an elevator, ready to follow the rules. But on the long way down, the elevator stops on each floor, and with every stop, a new ghost from his past gets on, each with a piece of the story about the cycle of violence you’ve been born into.

Jason Reynolds is a Newbery Award Honoree, a Printz Award Honoree, and the former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, celebrated for his authentic portrayal of urban teen life. Growing up in a neighborhood just like the one in Long Way Down, Reynolds draws from his own experiences and observations to craft stories that resonate deeply with young readers. He writes not to preach, but to reflect the world he knows, offering a powerful, empathetic voice for a generation often unheard.