{"id":2569,"date":"2020-01-26T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-26T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/?p=2569"},"modified":"2020-10-24T05:13:40","modified_gmt":"2020-10-24T10:13:40","slug":"long-way-down-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/long-way-down-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Revenge Worth it?: Long Way Down Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jason Reynolds is the king of engaging young adult literature.<\/strong> We all know that. But Long Way Down<\/em>, in my opinion, really kicks it up a notch. In this Long Way Down<\/em> Lit Literature review, I’ll show you just how powerful, and accessible, this novel in verse is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I personally use and love, or think my readers will find useful.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Drew Me to Long Way Down?<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ok, here’s the truth: Long Way Down<\/a><\/em> was my first Jason Reynolds read. I had heard the name everywhere (how could you not?), but none of his titles had really grabbed my attention until Long Way Down<\/a><\/em> came out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had been in the middle of planning my first creative writing class<\/a>, and I was constantly on the lookout for great novels in verse to use as mentor texts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long Way Down<\/a><\/em> did not disappoint. The poetry alone dazzles, but the story holds your attention captive.<\/strong> It is grungy and edgy in a way that I knew would appeal to my urban students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main character is nineteen-year-old Will. When his brother is murdered in a shooting, Will knows he must do what men do: take care of it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He leaves his apartment, hellbent on finding his brother’s killer and taking vengeance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The elevator ride down, however, is an eventful one. <\/strong>On each floor, the elevator stops, allowing a new rider to board. Each of these new characters is a ghost, murdered through the belief of “blood for blood.” And each offers Will advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story is chilling and one that neither you nor your students will forget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n