Long Way DownLong Way Down
Score Modern
What it's about
Will's older brother, Shawn, has been shot dead, and Will knows the rules: don't cry, don't snitch, get revenge. He takes Shawn's gun and gets on the elevator. On the way down, the doors open at every floor, and someone from his past gets on. Jason Reynolds tells the story in verse, in the sixty seconds of that ride.
Why it's worth reading
It has spent 168 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's a powerful, fast and widely taught novel about gun violence and choice.
You'll love it if you liked
Dear Martin
The Hate U Give
On the Come UpGood to know
It's a novel in verse that takes about an hour to read. Its open ending invites discussion.
By the numbers
- Readers82 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller42 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz36 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #41 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #345 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #677 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Jason Reynolds
If you like this, read next
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
The Bottoms
Too Late
House Rules
Sam's Letters to Jennifer
Dead and GoneExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Long Way Down worth reading?
Yes. It has spent 168 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #677 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Long Way Down about?
Will's older brother, Shawn, has been shot dead, and Will knows the rules: don't cry, don't snitch, get revenge. He takes Shawn's gun and gets on the elevator. On the way down, the doors open at every floor, and someone from his past gets on. Jason Reynolds tells the story in verse, in the sixty seconds of that ride.
How long does it take to read Long Way Down?
About 8 hours (320 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Long Way Down?
If you liked it, try Dear Martin by Nic Stone, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas or On the Come Up by Angie Thomas.