Long Way Down PDF is a young adult novel by Jason Reynolds. It was published on October 17, 2017 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. The novel is a New York Times Bestseller, winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, and an ALA-YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults Book.
Long Way Down follows the story of fifteen-year-old Will, who must journey down seventy floors in an elevator after his brother is shot. As he descends, each floor represents a different stage in grief, and Will meets other ghosts – people who have died from gun violence – along the way.
The novel is written in verse, with each chapter consisting of a single page. Reynolds has said that he was inspired to write the novel after hearing about a fifteen-year-old boy who was shot and killed near his home.
As of March 2021, Long Way Down has sold over one million copies and has been translated into twenty-seven languages.
Table of Contents
Long Way Down Summary
The novel starts with the main character, Will, on top of a building. He has a gun in his hand and is seconds away from shooting himself as his brother did just a few months ago. As he’s about to pull the trigger, he sees a ghost of his brother appear before him. This ghost starts leading Will down the stairs of the building, and as they go, more ghosts of people who have died from gun violence appear.
These ghosts include Will’s brother, his friends, people from his neighborhood, and even celebrities like Trayvon Martin and Tupac Shakur. As they go down the stairs, the ghosts share their stories of how they died. Some were killed in drive-bys, others were caught in the crossfire, and still, others took their own lives.
Will is stunned by all of these stories, and he begins to realize that his own story is not so unique. He also realizes that gun violence is a cycle that just keeps repeating itself. By the time he reaches the bottom of the stairs, he has made up his mind not to shoot himself. He puts the gun down and walks away from it, vowing to make a difference in his community and end the cycle of gun violence.
Details of Long Way Down Book
| Book | Long Way Down |
| Author | Jason Reynolds |
| Original language | English |
| Originally published | October 24, 2017 |
| Category | Young Adult Fiction |
| Publisher | Simon and Schuster |
| Total Pages | 306 |
| Format | PDF, ePub |
Multiple Languages Editions of Long Way Down Book
Long Way Down novel has been translated and published in many languages other than English. The book has been a bestseller in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
| Book Editions | Check Now |
|---|---|
| English | Check Price |
| German | Check Price |
| French | Check Price |
| Chinese | Check Price |
About the Author
Jason Reynolds is an American author of novels and poetry for young adults. His work includes When I Was the Greatest, As Brave As You, All American Boys (co-written with Brendan Kiely), and the Track series.
He has been a finalist for the National Book Award, a two-time winner of the Walter Dean Myers Award, and a recipient of the Kirkus Prize. In 2015, he was named a Stonewall Honor Book Author. Reynolds was born in Decatur, Georgia, and grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. He is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
Reynolds has said that he began writing when he was “about thirteen or fourteen”, after being inspired by the work of Walter Dean Myers. Before becoming a full-time writer, Reynolds worked as a counselor for at-risk youth.
Reynolds’ first book, When I Was the Greatest, was published in 2014. His work often deals with issues of race and identity. In an interview with NPR, Reynolds said that he writes “for the kid who looks like me…the black and brown kids”.
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Similar Books to Long Way Down Book
- All American Boys
- The Track series
- As Brave As You
- Ghosts
- The Boy in the Black Suit
- Monkey Business
- Sunrise Over Fallujah
- The Crossover
FAQs(Frequently Asked Questions)
How many pages is Long Way Down pdf?
Long Way Down is 299 pages long.
How long will it take to read Long Way Down?
It will take the average reader about 4-6 hours to read Long Way Down.
Is Long Way Down a true story?
No, Long Way Down is a work of fiction. However, it is based on the real-life experience of the author, Jason Reynolds.
What is the main theme in the book Long Way Down?
The main theme of Long Way Down is gun violence and its impact on the lives of those affected by it.
Who is the main character in A Long Way Down?
The main character of Long Way Down is Will, a 15-year-old boy who is struggling to grapple with the recent loss of his brother, Shawn, to gun violence.
What is the genre of Long Way Down?
The genre of Long Way Down is Young Adult Fiction.
